§ Mr. Farrasked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that the East Midlands has the lowest investment in the installation of microelectronic equipment in the country, if she will take a major initiative through the Departments of Industry and of Education and Science, the Manpower Services Commission and the microprocessing application programme, to change this.
§ The Prime MinisterSince the survey which provoked this question—spring 1981—we have announced substantial programmes to encourage the application of new technology, including, today, £35 million for advanced flexible manufacturing systems. Following two stops in the region by the "Microtrain" last year, the microprocessor application project is initiating awareness programmes for industries important to the East Midlands—textiles, footwear and engineering—with MSC. Up to seven IT centres to train young unemployed people are planned in the region. A total of 415 schools in the region have obtained microcomputers under the micros in schools scheme which complements the microelectronics education programme. These are but a few of the major initiatives already taken by the thrice Departmens. More are planned. But in the end, it is up to firms to make the most of them.