§ 2.40 p.m.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government approximately how many computers are now in use in this country; how does this compare with other countries; and to what extent we are increasing our manufacture and export of computers.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY (LORD DELACOURT-SMITH)My Lords, the number of computers of all kinds, other than computers used for defence purposes, currently in use in the United Kingdom has been estimated to be in excess of 5,200. It is difficult to make meaningful comparisons of the numbers of computers in use in different countries because there is no commonly accepted definition of a computer. However, it can be said that the United States leads the world with approximately 60,000 installations; the Federal German Republic and Japan are roughly on a par with the United Kingdom; then comes France followed by Italy.
There has been a significant and continuing increase in recent years in the manufacture of computer equipment in the United Kingdom and in total exports from the country. In terms of value of deliveries, the increase sines 1966 has averaged about 24 per cent. per annum for manufacture and 20 per cent. for exports. In the year ended September 30, 1969, the value of deliveries of British-made computer equipment was £143 million, and total exports were more than £55 million.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for his reply, may I ask him whether, in view of the imperative need for computers in our 530 economy, he is satisfied with the present rate of progress; and if he can tell me whether, in the months ahead, there is likely to be an advance in both production and export?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHMy Lords, we are certainly very conscious of the importance of computers to the British economy, and we are hopeful of continuing progress in the two respects that my noble friend has mentioned. I may perhaps point out that in the first nine months of 1969 the deliveries of computers were 35 per cent. above the corresponding period for 1968, and exports were 52 per cent. over the corresponding period for 1968.
THE EARL OF SELKIRKMy Lords, can the noble Lord say how many computers in use in this country were manufactured here?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHNot without notice, I am afraid.
§ LORD BEAUMONT OF WHITLEYMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether our share of computer production has been increasing or decreasing in recent years?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHMy Lords, taking the world as a whole, it is difficult to provide meaningful figures in answer to that question.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, I should like to ask my noble friend one further question; namely, whether the amount for computers imported from the United States is decreasing proportionately?
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHMy Lords, I can give the figure for the year 1968, which was £37 million. However, I would point out that we are now currently supplying about two-thirds of the home market from British-built equipment.
§ LORD BYERSMy Lords, is it not misleading to refer simply to the number of computers in use?—because the modern computer can do as much work as 50 older models.
§ LORD DELACOURT-SMITHMy Lords, there is some truth in that, and I referred to it in my original reply.