§ 87. Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why many Science Research Council financed computers are manufactured by foreign firms; if he will encourage the wider use of British computers for science research; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsScience Research Council grants are not given for the purchase of foreign computers except when there is no suitable British-made machine. The Ministry of Technology is always consulted. Encouragement is given to British firms to produce computers for research needs as part of the Government's policy of increasing the use of computers and strengthening the competitiveness of the British industry.
Until recently few British computers were available to meet the highly specialised requirements of researchers but the situation has now improved.