HC Deb 12 July 1967 vol 750 cc117-8W
Mr. John Page

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent the programme of the Flowers Report, Command Paper No. 2883, as set out on page 1, paragraph 3, has been achieved; and to what extent paragraph iv on page iii applies.

Mr. Crosland

The purchase of computers for universities to the total value of £6.5 million has been approved so far against the Flowers programme, which is being kept under review by the Computer Board. Further major provision is under consideration by the Board. It is still expected that the expenditure in the first three years will average about £3 million a year, as envisaged in paragraph (iv) on page iii of Command 2883, when account is taken of building and operating costs.

Expenditure by the Research Councils on "off line" computers totalled nearly £2 million in the financial year 1966–67 and is expected to be £1.5 million in 1967–68.