§ Mr. Ancramasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about his proposals for development programmes in microelectronics for schools and colleges in Scotland.
§ Mr. YoungerMy hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for industry and education in Scotland announced in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Argyll (Mr. Mackay) on 15 January 1980—[Vol. 976, c. 701–2]—that about £0.3 million would be made available in 1979–80 for the provision of microelectronics equipment for loan to schools and colleges through the Scottish Council for Educational Technology. A further sum of about £1 million will be provided over the next four years for a research and development programme. The main emphasis of this programme will be to promote an awareness in schools and colleges of the implications of microelectronics and the study of applications. In addition, an educational development centre in microelectronics is to be established, with grant-aid from my Department, at Paisley college of technology to provide courses for technologists, technicians and, on an in-service basis, for lecturers, and to disseminate information on new educational developments in microelectronics.