§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) whether Her Majesty's Government are still prepared to finance the National Enterprise Board's initiative on the manufacture of the microcircuit computer memory 64K metal oxide silicon random access memory, bearing in mind that Japanese companies are likely to manufacture and market the device either in 1978 or 1979;
(2) whether Her Majesty's Government are considering abandoning the National Enterprise Board's initiative to produme advance microcircuit computer memories such as 64K MOSRAM, and instead financing the private sector which is already involved in this technology.
(3) how many representations have been made to him that Her Majesty's Government, through their own initiative, should manufacture advanced microcircuit computer memories in competition with the private sector both in the United Kingdom and abroad.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldI refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13th June to the hon. Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke)—[Vol. 951, c. 389]. It is for the NEB to assess the commercial prospects of the project, and the hon. Member will be aware of their recent announcement about it. My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about the establishment of a United Kingdom microelectronics capability and my Department is always ready to consider on their merits requests for assistance from companies in the private sector.