§ Mr. Formanasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give an estimate of the total spent on research and development in the electronics industry in 1976–77, and the proportion of the total funded by the Government.
§ Mr. CryerThe latest available estimate of total industrial expenditure on research and development on electronics and telecommunications, including computers, is from the 1972 survey, when industry reported expenditure of £179.4 million, of which £74.0 million or 41 per cent. was financed by the Government.
319WThe next survey for 1975 is nearing completion and the results are expected to be published next month.
§ Mr. Formanasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what financial assistance has been granted to firms in the electronics industry under Sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972; and which firms have received such assistance;
(2) what financial assistance has been received by the electronics industry under the accelerated projects scheme.
§ Mr. Formanasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list all Government research establishments which are engaged in research in electronics; and what is the budgeted expenditure for each one in the current financial year.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldNone of the laboratories for which my Department is responsible is engaged in research in electronics to any significant degree. My Department, however, does commission research in electronic materials and devices at Royal Signals and Radar Establishment, Malvern, a Ministry of Defence establishment, which in 1977–78 is estimated to cost £0.9 million.