HC Deb 17 March 1980 vol 981 cc49-50W
Mr. Butcher

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list those projects and schemes which have been wholly or partly funded by his Department to promote telematics equipment of United Kingdom manufacture; how much has been spent in each of the past three years; and what percentage of his Department's budget this represents.

Mr. Michael Marshall

The records of expenditure are maintained in such a way that, bearing in mind the wide range of equipment covered by the term "telematics", they do not enable a precise reply to be given to this particular ques- tion. However the Department directly supports a wide range of projects in the field of telematics equipment both under the Science and Technology Act, particularly the product and process development scheme, the microprocessor applications project and microelectronics industry support programme and the Industry Act.

In addition, the Department's provision of public dividend capital to the National Enterprise Board has enabled it to acquire shareholdings in companies with interests in technology or "telematics".