88. Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking to encourage the use of computers in the shipbuilding industry.
§ Mr. CousinsThe Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is at present providing assistance in the form of research grants to Universities and additional research work is being undertaken in Government Laboratories. The application of this research to ship production is being developed by the British Ship Research Association (which receives substantial grant aid) in conjunction with D.S.I.R.
§ Mr. Hoggasked the Minister of Technology whether he will list the projects of research and development in the fields of computer technique and superconductivity covered by contracts or still in negotiation by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, stating in the case of each project the finance involved, the nature of the project and the name of the firm with which the contract is made or being negotiated.
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§ Mr. CousinsThe information asked for is as follows:
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS (DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH) CONTRACTS PLACED Advanced Computer Techniques Project Firm Nature of Project Total Value £ D.S.I.R. share Per cent. Elliott Bros. (Ldn) Ltd. Optoelectronics 8,000 50 Tunnel diodes 75,000 50 Ferranti Ltd Integrated circuits 24,000 50 International Computers and Tabulators Ltd. Design of an experimental computer 63,000 50 Mullard Ltd. Cryotron stores 100,000 50 Plessey (U.K.) Ltd Integrated circuits 100,000 50 Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd. Spark machining 30,000 50 Automatic maintenance: (i) 9,000 50 (ii). 52,000 50 Super conductivity Project Associated Electrical Industries Ltd. Properties of superconducting alloys 40,000 66⅔ Fulmer Research Inst Joining of Brittle superconductors 12,000 100 Fulmer Research Inst. Vapour deposition of superconducting compounds other than niobium tin 12,000 100 General Electric Co. Ltd Magnetic properties of sintered hard conductors 40,000 66⅔ Imperial Metal Industries Ltd. Study of a method of producing niobium tin strip ore wire 11,000 66⅔ International Research and Development, Ltd. Flux distribution in high field superconductors 23,000 100 Metals Research Institute The preparation of intermetallic compounds having the Beta-tungsten crystal structure 10,000 100 CONTRACTS UNDER NEGOTIATION Advanced Computer Techniques Project International Computers and Tabulators Ltd. Design automation 92,000 50 Superconductivity Project It is too early to give details of the contracts under negotiation in respect of the additional £150,000 project for improved superconducting wire composites to which I referred in my reply of 23rd February.