§ Mr. Formanasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) in what instances the Government have used public purchasing to pull through novel developments in information technology as recommended in the recent Advisory Committee on Research and Development report;
(2) what steps his Department is taking to encourage and publicise innovative applications of information technology by Government Departments, local authorities and public corporations as recommended in the recent Advisory committee on Research and Development report.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallThe Government are urgently considering the recommendations of the Advisory Council on Applied Research and Development in its report on information technology, and will be responding in due course.