§ 16. Mr. Carterasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is his policy that the computer-aided design centres now under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry should be allowed to expand.
§ Mr. RidleyThe C.A.D. Centre at Cambridge is the Department's only establishment devoted solely to computer-aided design. It is performing valuable work, but we shall keep its activities under review to ensure that the benefits remain commensurate with the costs.
§ Mr. CarterIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this establishment and others of a similar nature were established by the Ministry of Technology with the enthusiasm and co-operation of private industry and that to subject them to the same kind of axing as has been going on under the new régime would meet with the disapproval not only of those who work in these establishments but also of private and public industry?
§ Mr. RidleyThe hon. Gentleman will know that there is a very important private firm very much in the field as well. We wish to encourage all design by this method, but the hon. Gentleman will accept that there is no point in undertaking these design studies by computer if they do not in the long run become profitable.