§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a preliminary statement on the proposed strategy for the British computer industry for the next five years.
§ Mr. CryerMy Department is in regular contact with the computer industry about the technical and commercial environment in which it operates, so that the emphasis of the various support schemes can be adjusted to meet changing requirements. I also receive advice from the NEDC computer sector working party and the requirements board for computers, systems and electronics and keep in touch with the NEB. There seems to be general agreement that over the next five years peripherals and terminals within the hardware sector will continue to increase in importance and that there will be a growing emphasis on expertise in computer applications and systems soft862W ware. Discussions are continuing on the specific actions which should be taken to reflect these findings.
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will institute a special fund for the allocation of new computer equipment in Government Departments to meet the information needs of the next decade.
Mr. Alan WilliamsThe acquisition of computer equipment for Government Departments is the responsibility of the Minister for the Civil Service. However, my Department is in regular contact with the Civil Service Department about new developments in computer technology and their implications for Government computing.