§ Mr Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the amount of State support for the microelectronic industry in the United Kingdom and other leading EEC countries.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldDirect support for the United Kingdom microelectronics industry by my Department is at present almost £5 million per year and is planned to total £70 million over the next five years. In addition, the NEB has announced a £25 million investment in Inmos and the Government have also launched a £55 million programme in support of microprocessor applications, 129W part of which will flow into the microelectronics industry itself. Thus, excluding spending on defence, and on optroelectronics, public funds totalling £150 million have been committed in support of the microelectronics industry and in encouragement of the use of microprocessors. The French have announced a F.600 million programme of direct support for their industry over the next five years and the Federal Republic of Germany is believed to be spending about DM.40 million.