§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is currently sponsored by(a) his Department or (b) research councils, on the basic science of semi-conducting materials for (i) telecommunications, (ii) energy systems transfers.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe Department of Education and Science does not sponsor such research directly.
The Science and Engineering Research Council supports a number of research programmes in basic semi-conducting materials science.
Much of this research has potential application for telecommunications and a number of projects are specifically aimed at developments in this field. These include high-frequency devices for satellite and portable communications and the development of new semi-conductor lasers for use with optical fibre systems.
Projects involving potential applications in the energy industry include research into solar cells, new power devices and drive systems, power conversion and power supply systems.