§ 19. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Minister of Technology what steps he intends to take to ensure that a fair proportion of public contracts for computers and ancillary equipment go to development areas.
§ Mr. VarleyThe Government's policy is to encourage the development of the British computer industry and preference is given in awarding Government contracts to computers made in Britain. Wherever possible the needs of the development areas are taken into account.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs my hon. Friend aware that that is not quite the situation as companies such as Burroughs Machines in Fife see it? Is it not in the national interest that a bigger proportion of computer contracts should go to companies in development areas? Will my hon. Friend say when he intends to send me a reply to the letter which I sent to him before Christmas, with the statistics supplied to me by Burroughs? I have not yet had a reply.
§ Mr. VarleyI will certainly look into the matter of that letter and get a reply off to my hon. Friend as quickly as possible.
The Government recognise that the computer industry makes a valuable contribution to development areas.
§ Mr. David PriceWill the Minister clarify a point in his original Answer? Did I hear him say that the Government give priority to computers made in Britain or to computers made in Britain by British companies?
§ Mr. VarleyTo computers made in Britain.