§ Lord Wade of Choritonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 14 July (WA 86), (a) why their response in June to the Science and Technology Committee's report Chips for Everything: Britain's opportunities in a key global market relied on the Information Age Partnership in rejecting the report's key recommendation for a new taskforce to bring greater coherence to the United Kingdom's new-style computer industry; (b) why, if the Electronic Innovation and Growth Team has the significance now indicated, the team was not mentioned in their June response; and (c) whether they will now commission advice from the team on the report's wide ranging recommendations. [HL4058]
§ Lord Sainsbury of Turville(a) The Government did not rely on the Information Age Partnership (IAP) in rejecting the key recommendation for a new task force to bring greater coherence to the United Kingdom's new style computer industry, in the Science and Technology Committee's report,Chips for Everything. The Government saw no need to set up a new task force when existing fora, such as the IAP, provided a mechanism for engaging key partners.
80WA(b) At the time of the Government's response, the Electronic Innovation and Growth Team had not met to agree its work programme.
(c) The Electronics Innovation and Growth Team is tasked to identify the key issues that will shape the future of the electronic industry and how the UK can best respond to the competitive challenges that it will face. Its scope is wider than the computer industry. It will draw on views and evidence from a range of sources, including the Chips for Everything report. It will not however be tasked specifically to advise on the report.