§ Mr. David Howellasked the Minister of Technology whether he will give further details of the risk-sharing application ventures in automation in which the National Research Development Corporation is engaged, indicating the public 52W money involved in each case and the budgeted profit.
§ Mr. BennCertain of the National Research Development Corporation's ventures in the application of automation are referred to in their 18th Annual Report. Support of the installation of automation equipment comes under a general scheme which has been running for some years, and one project has been completed. There are three projects current under this scheme concerned with acetic acid plant, at a gas board plant, and for type-setting in hot metal. The financial details of these projects are confidential between the Corporation and their industrial partners. In addition, the Corporation is also supporting under a separate arrangement a ship computer system referred to in the Report, with an investment of up to £60,000.