§ Mr. Parkasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is now able to make a statement arising from the studies commissioned by his Department's biotechnology unit into the possible impact on the process plant industry of the development of biotechnology.
§ Mr. PattieThe studies commissioned by the biotechnology unit indicates that biotechnology will have a significant impact on the process plant industry. By the year 2000 it is estimated that equipment to the value of more than £300 million will be installed in the United Kingdom and more than 10 times that value in the rest of the world. The United Kingdom has the potential skills to become a major supplier of equipment and plant installations for biotechnology. This information has been made available to United Kingdom companies and my Department is encouraging process plant manufacturers to tackle these potential markets vigorously. The Department is giving direct assistance in collaborative projects aimed at pre-competitive research and, with some companies, in specific product developments.