HC Deb 14 June 1982 vol 25 cc594-5
3. Mr. Beaumont-Dark

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much money has so far been committed by the Government to the information technology industries.

The Secretary of State for Industry (Mr. Patrick Jenkin)

The sum was £70 million in 1980–81 and £91 million in 1981–82. This includes support for microelectronics development and application projects, development of IT products and processes and space research and development. Cash allocations for the next three years stand at £134 million for 1982–83, £165 million for 1983–84 and £168 million for 1984–85. In addition to projects already mentioned, the money will go on new schemes for fibre optics, computer-aided design manufacture and test, robotics, flexible manufacturing systems and office automation, as well as micros for general practitioners, the micros in schools scheme, IT centres and the small engineering firms investment scheme. I am arranging for a short table summarising the breakdown to be published in the Official Report.

Mr. Beaumont-Dark

There is no doubt that those are interesting statistics. Is my right hon. Friend certain that the Department is doing enough to put over the message that the real hopes of expansion for industry, security of jobs and obtaining new contracts lie with the greater use of the facilities that the Department has made available instead of the fears that many have that modern technology works them out of jobs?

Mr. Jenkin

My hon. Friend has put his finger on an important point. By 1983–84 we shall be spending twice as much on these programmes as had been planned by our predecessors. We are spending substantial sums on various awareness and information programmes to try to persuade people that more jobs are likely to be lost by failing to keep up with new technology than by introducing it. That is a fundamental truth which, increasingly, industry is beginning to understand.

Mr. Christopher Price

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we shall not properly develop our information technology industries unless we have data protection laws that are acceptable to other countries, especially those in Europe, and make it possible to share information between countries? How is he getting on with his battle with the Home Office to introduce a Bill next year to deal with these issues?

Mr. Jenkin

It will be for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to decide whether a Bill should be introduced next year. If the hon. Gentleman is really interested in data protection he may be able, with his Friends, to give my right hon. Friend an assurance that they will not keep the House up for all hours of the day and night on freedom of information, which is a completely different subject—

Mr. Christopher Price

It is exactly the same subject.

Mr. Jenkin

With respect, it is not. If the hon. Gentleman is really concerned about data protection for the information technology industries, he will give the assurance for which I have asked.

Mr. Freud

Is the right hon. Gentleman happy about the fact that the level of our investment compares favourably with that of other EEC countries? Will he consider publishing a league table?

Mr. Jenkin

We can take some comfort from the schemes that are being promoted by my Department to assist advanced technology, which are having some effect. The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the recent statistic that twice as many robot machine tools are in use in British industry as there were a year ago.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

As some of the money will be spent on information technology centres, and as it is clear that good training is needed if we are to make the best use of technologies, when will the next round of information technology centres be announced, and will Lincoln be included? My right hon. Friend will know that nearly all sections of society within Lincoln believe that such a centre would do a great deal of good for high technology in the city.

Mr. Jenkin

I am well aware of the immense value of the ITeCs both for the spread of knowledge of technologies and the opportunities that they give to young people who are able to work at them. I cannot give my hon. Friend a date, but we are pressing ahead with the target of 100

Department of Industry Support for IT
£million (to nearest whole figure)
1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85
Out Turn Allocation
Microelectronics 15 17 23 30 28
Fibre Optics — — 2 8 12
Engineering IT — — 17 27 26
IT development and applications 11 15 38 39 37
Space 44 59 54 61 65
TOTAL 70 91 134 165 168