§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Industry how much his Department intends to provide for the promotion and advancement of robotics in (a) research, (b) applications and (c) manufacture in the current financial year; and how much it is proposed to spend in 1982–83 and 1983–84.
§ Mr. Kenneth Baker[pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1981, c. 401]: The Department and the Science Research Council plan to spend £1 .5 million on support for robotics in the current financial year. This will rise to some £4 million by 1983–4 provided the response from industry is positive. The allocation of these funds between research, application, manufacture and consultancy has been left open so that we can respond flexibly to demand.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the numbers of robots currently being used in British Industry; and what steps he is taking to increase this use.
§ Mr. Kenneth Baker[pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1981, c. 401]: No. Although there has recently been an increase in the British robot population, our major international competitors are still well ahead of us. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said when opening the 136W Automan 81 exhibition at Brighton in April, the Government are committed to encouraging British industry to use robots. This commitment is reflected in the Government's support measures for consultancy, use and manufacture of robots.