HL Deb 12 November 1980 vol 414 cc1463-4WA
Lord GRANVILLE of EYE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking other than the Inmos scheme to train young technologists in microchip techniques for the consumer and defence industries of the United Kingdom.

The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (Viscount Trenchard)

There has been an increased emphasis on micro-electronics in the general educational system in the last two years. In addition, the Department of Industry under its Microprocessor Application Project provides grants for the development of short courses to train engineers from industry in micro-electronic techniques. Over 34,000 places on such courses have been added to the 2,500 estimated as annually available in 1978. The department has also sponsored a competition which will result in more than 100 micro-computers being placed in secondary schools. The Manpower Services Commission provides grants under the Training for Skills programme to assist with key skill imbalances and is giving particular priority to the new technologies.