Microtechnology (Hansard, 23 July 1982)

§ Mr. Gwilym Roberts
asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will outline the steps he is taking to further increase the use of microtechnology in offices and other commercial enterprises; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Butcher
The Department of Industry, in liaison with the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency, has sought to increase the use of information technology in offices by the operation of a promotion strategy consisting of five elements.

(i) increasing the awareness of the benefits of automation in offices through the activities of IT82 and other programmes;

(ii) making available to professions, trade associations and similar bodies the skills of the United Kingdom's office systems consultancy organisations;

(iii) giving priority to office systems products for support under Department of Industry research and development schemes;

(iv), encouraging the increased use of currently available office systems products throughout the public sector;

(v) mounting a series of pilot office automation trials in a number of sites in the public sector.

Consideration is currently being given to ways in which the approach as outlined may be enhanced and improved to build on the momentum already achieved.

§ Mr. Gwilym Roberts
asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made in developing the use of microtechnology (a) in industry, (b) in small firms, (c) in offices and other commercial enterprises and (d) in the domestic environment; if he will outline the steps he is taking further to increase the use of microtechnology in each of these areas; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Butcher
It is encouraging that 30 per cent. of manufacturing companies are now using microelectronics, compared with only 5 per cent. in 1977. However, much still needs to be done, and as my right hon. Friend announced in the Budget innovation package, we shall he making more funds available for the microelectronics application project—MAP—which the recent PSI report found to be necessary, cost effective, and directed at tha main problems. An announcement about the additional funds will be made later this year.
Some 55 per cent. of the companies benefiting from MAP have been small firms, and two new initiatives recognise their special needs: the small engineering firms investment scheme—now closed after an overwhelming response—and the small firms technical inquiry service; also being considered is assistance for consultancy on business use of microcomputers. An announcement on this will be made in due course. In the office, seven pilot projects will be fully operational this year under the office automation strategy.
Teletext sales for domestic use are now approximately one-third of all sales of large screen sets—helped by the continuing allowances announced by my right hon. Friend in the last Budget. We are also supporting a six-month exhibition on information technology in the home—the IT House—initiated by the Milton Keynes development corporation. Further initiatives will be taken as opportunities arise.