2. Mr. Moomnanasked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the recent British/Swedish agreement on increasing technical co-operation in the fields of atomic energy, computer techniques and social technologies.
§ The Minister of Technology (Mr. Anthony Wedgwood Benn)There is no formal agreement between our two countries, but the visit to the United Kingdom in June of this year by Herr Wickman, the Swedish Minister of Industry, provided a useful basis for the developing technological contacts and co-operation which are taking place. Social technologies are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning, who is responsible for the wide range of environmental problems.
§ Mr. MoonmanI thank my right hon. Friend for that statement. With particular reference to computers, as we have a real chance and a lead as opposed to the Americans in Sweden, is any future 3 development likely to take place, and will my right hon. Friend consider visiting that country?
§ Mr. BennMy hon. Friend who was with me and who is now at the Department of Education and Science went to Sweden early in October. There is now a fairly firm pattern of visits, and 1 should like to go to Sweden. The question of computers is best dealt with at the industrial level.