§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for Industry what aid is being granted to private industry to further the development of data transmission.
§ Mr. MeacherNo aid is being granted directly to private industry by the Department of Industry to further the development of data transmission. The Department is, however, supporting a number of activities which are expected to influence United Kingdom industrial competence in the subject. Departmental support for ICL is being used to assist with its general computer development work, and some of this lies in the field of computer communications.288W The Department funds research and development work in computer communications at some Government establishments, and on the international scene it is involved in the European Informatics Network and is helping to fund experimental work being done at London University using a link to a research network in the United States of America. The Post Office is pursuing a number of activities in the field of data transmission, for some of which it makes use of industrial firms.