HC Deb 29 January 1969 vol 776 c325W
37. Mr. David Howell

asked the Minister of Technology how many staff including administrative staff in Whitehall, are involved in the operation of the 15 low-cost automation centres throughout the country; what the net cost of this programme is in a full year; and when the last assessment of this programme was made in order to compare results achieved against its cost.

Dr. Bray

The present staff employed are four full-time at four of the centres, the equivalent of two full-time civil servants in Whitehall, and part of the time of 22 academic and technical staff of the colleges and universities. The current year's cost is £80,000. The service is still building up. The results were last reviewed in November, 1968. Annual savings to firms are expected to exceed the total annual cost of the scheme when it is fully established.