§ 53. Mr. Spenceasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimated share of the British market for 79W computer hardware and software is supplied by British suppliers; what is the estimated value of the total British market in both; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ButcherFor 1982 sales of computer equipment, mainly hardware, manufactured in the United Kingdom, are estimated at £1,250 million. This figure includes an unknown element for software since many computers are sold as systems which include supporting software. The United Kingdom sales of computing services—that is, sales of software, processing and professional services provided on a commercial basis—are estimated from voluntary returns at £1,200 million for 1982. Exports of hardware from the United Kingdom in 1982 are estimated at £1,200 million and imports into the United Kingdom at £1,750 million; but these figures include a large entrepot trade which is not separately identified and precise market share is therefore difficult to estimate. Similar figures for export and import of software are not available.