§ 23. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Technology if he will list the areas of the electronics industry where Government action is expected to be urgently required.
§ Mr. CousinsOne area of the electronics industry under particular consideration is microelectronics. The effective co-ordination and exploitation of research and development is also very important. In this my Department is being assisted by the Technical Advisory Committee on Electronics which includes representatives from industry, the N.R.D.C. and other Government Departments.
§ Mr. HastingsDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that no amount of tinkering with electronic systems and techniques will suffice unless there is a firm policy on projects, both civil and 1411 military? Does he further realise that the main reason why we have fallen so far behind the United States is the firm commitments of the Americans to defence and space technology and our own chronic indecision in these respects?
§ Mr. CousinsThe Ministry is not suggesting that it will be involved in space, but that it will take up projects which are of aid to the electronics industries.