§ Dr. Michael Clarkasked the Secretary of State of Trade and Industry how many industrial robots are being used in the United Kingdom; how the numbers have changed over the last five years; and what information he has as to how the figures compare with the United Kingdom's main industrial competitors.
§ Mr. ButcherThe British Robot Association has estimated that at December 1978 there were 125 industrial robots installed in the United Kingdom. Since 1980 the association has conducted a detailed annual survey which has shown that the number of industrial robots installed in the United Kingdom has risen from 371 at December 1980 to 713 at December 1981 and 1,152 at December 1982. The December 1982 survey showed that the number of industrial robots installed at that time in other countries was as follows:
Industrial Robots Japan 13,000 United States of America 6,250 West Germany 3,500 Sweden 1,300 France 950 Italy 700 Belgium 350 Other Western Countries 1,200