§ Mr. Leslie Huckfield(1) asked the Minister of Technology what plans he has for amending computer installation and purchasing procedures in the public sector, following representations by the industry concerning the obtaining of equipment for L.A.C.E.S. at London Airport;
(2) asked the Minister for the Civil Service what directions, recommendations and advice on the need to purchase or lease British-made computer hardware and software equipment have been given to Government Departments, nationalised industries and local authorities; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Dr. Ernest A. DaviesI have been asked to reply to the Question addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Civil Service.
As regards Government purchasing, it remains the policy of the Government that purchases of computers will be made from British firms whenever reasonably possible. Each case is considered on its merits, price being only one of the many factors which have to be taken into account. No directive has been given to other public authorities, but they have been invited to take into account the desirability of supporting British industry. Machines made in Britain by subsidiaries of foreign firms are regarded in this context as British.
87WThe computer advisory service provides objective advice and assistance on computer requirements in the public sector, and it draws attention to the merits of British computers where these are being overlooked. We have no proposal to change these arrangements: the choice of equipment for the L.A.C.E.S. project was a matter for the then Postmaster-General.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Minister of Technology (1) what plans he has for the extension of investment grants and other financial assistance to further sections of the computer industry, in software and hardware; and whether he will make a statement;
(2) what plans he has for further financial support for British-made software and timesharing systems for the computer industry other than International Computers Limited.
§ Dr. Ernest A. DaviesThe application of the investment grant scheme to the rapidly changing technology of the computer field is kept under continuous review but we have no plans for the extension of grants to further sections of the industry at present. We are not at present proposing to launch new schemes for other financial assistance to computer hardware or software companies but we shall continue to support worthwhile projects for software and hardware development, including software for multi-access systems, with both British software houses and computer manufacturers.
88W
Hospital Management Committee Hospital Acreage Harlow Group … … Epping and District Cottage … … … 0.350 Ongar War Memorial … … … 1.760 St. Margaret's Epping … … … 25.400 Waltham Abbey War Memorial … … … 0.962 Honey Lane, Waltham Abbey … … … 33.100 Princess Alexandra, Harlow … … … 29.200 Bishop's Stortford and District … … … 2.949 East Herts … … … 5.877 Herts. and Essex General … … … 22.070 Hertford County, Hertford … … … 7.807 Ware Park, Ware … … … 100.457 Western House, Ware-Joint user with local authority Enfield Group … … North Middlesex, N. 18 … … … 22.000 Tower Maternity Annexe, N.2 … … … 2.000 Greentrees, N.13 … … … 6.585 St. David's, N.18 … … … 18.500 Chase Farm, Enfield … … … 68.050 Cheshunt Cottage … … … 0.960 Enfield War Memorial … … … 1.510 St. Michael's, Enfield … … … 8.300 Highlands, N.21 … … … 35.737 Tottenham Group … … Bearsted Memorial, N.16 … … … 4.935 St. Ann's General, Tottenham, N.15 … … … 27.500 Prince of Wales General, Tottenham, N.15 … … 6.900
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Minister of Technology what representations asking for financial assistance he has received from British computer hardware and software firms and associations; what reply he has sent; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Dr. Ernest A. DaviesThe Ministry in the normal course of its business of encouraging new developments in both hardware and software receives proposals from both British computer hardware and software firms. Where proposals are supported, this is usually on some mutually acceptable cost-sharing basis. From time to time over the past two years, representatives of the British software industry have suggested that they would welcome more contracts for software for computer systems in central Government, and we have told them that this is primarily a matter for the Civil Service Department and my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal.