§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Secretary of State for Industry to what extent the Government has invested in microelectronics in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively.
§ Mr. Les Huckfield:Assistance with the production of micrelectronic components—and research and development expenditure—has been given by my Department through a variety of schemes over the last decade These schemes include the electronic components industry scheme, pre-production orders and development contracts, the microelectronics support scheme, the advanced computer tech- 398W nology project, and the microelectronics industry support programme. Expenditure committed to microelectronics under these schemes amounts to some £11 million. This figure does not include support made available through general regional measures or through defence procurement. A breakdown of this expenditure on a regional basis is not readily available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total sum invested to date by the State in the use of microelectronics technology or for its encouragement; and how much of this total has been expended in Wales.
§ Mr. Les Huckfield:The main Government instrument to encourage industry to use microelectronics is the £55 million microprocessor application programme. To date, 11 organisations running awareness and training courses have been assisted, 82 consultancy exercises have received grants amounting to £150,000 and approval of assistance to projects amounting to £1.6 million has been given in 26 cases. No MAP assistance has yet gone to Wales but applications from companies in Wales are under consideration. Assistance to projects incorporating microelectronic applications has been given under other schemes such as PPDS and regional schemes of assistance. As I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 12th December—[Vol. 960, c. 122–31—the amount of assistance going to Wales depends entirely on the response of Welsh industry.
§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Industry, in the light of the decline of the manufacturing base of the West Midlands and the increase in unemployment amongst skilled workers, what attempts are being made by Her Majesty's Government to encourage the use of microelectronics in the West Midlands.
§ Mr. Les Huckfield:At the meeting of the NEDC on 6th December, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced a package of measures to assist industry-in its applications of micoelectronics. Details of this package are included in the paper presented to NEDC by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Employment and Education and Science, and Industry a copy of which has been 399W placed in the Library of the House. These measures will apply throughout the country. My Department is taking active steps to promote the £55 million microprocessor applications project in the West Midlands and to date approval has been given for assistance under MAP to two consultancies and two projects involving the application of the technology in the region. There has been a steady flow of inquiries about the scheme from companies in the region.