§ Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the amounts of Government aid given to the computer industry over each of the past five years, and also the estimated amount for the current year.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantThe amounts of Government aid given to the computer industry in each of the past five years, and the estimate for the current year are as follows (£ million):
1967–68 … … … 2.3 1968–69 … … … 7.1 1969–70 … … … 6.4 1970–71 … … … 6.2 1971–72 … … … 4.9 1972–73 … … … (Est)13.3 In addition to direct financial support for firms in the industry, the above figures include expenditure on grants to and contracts with universities and the National Computing Centre for activities of value to the industry. The figures do not include payments of £350,000 in 1968–69 and £3,150,000 in 1972–3 in respect of the purchase of shares in International Computers (Holdings) Ltd., nor computer-related R & D expenditure in Government research establishments which is not separately identifiable.