§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all occasions(a) since April 1992 when the Government intervened to assist British industries and (b) since January 1982 when the Government intervened to assist British computer and computer component manufacturers.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 19 October 1992]: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has created a number of new industry sponsorship divisions within the Department whose role is to assist individual sectors of industry to compete in world markets. The Department also operates a wide range of schemes providing specific help to industry, including research and development support, regional selective assistance, export support and a range of support for small and medium-sized companies. Companies in the computing sector have obtained substantial benefit from these schemes over the past decade and will continue to receive support and help from my Department where this is appropriate.