§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government accept Recommendation No. 619 on the computer industry in Europe, hardware manufacturing, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 20th January, 1971; and whether they are prepared to collaborate in reaching agreement on common European standards and common European public procurement and development contract policies in the computer field.
§ Mr. CorfieldThe Government welcome moves towards standardisation in the computer field and Britain continues to participate in the work of the international standardisation bodies. Several of the other topics covered by the recommendation raise complex issues which are of concern to one or more of the international bodies to which it has been transmitted by the Council of Europe for comments.
The Government will play their part in international discussions on these topics.