§ Mr. Buchanasked the Secretary of State for Industry what amount of Government expenditure is spent on microprocessing research and development; and what proportion this is of the total Government research and development expenditure on industrial projects.
§ Mr. David MitchellMicroprocessor application research and development is a widespread activity playing a not readily quantifiable part in many projects. The Department of Industry is spending in the region of £1 million on projects or parts of projects in Government laboratories and industry during 1979–80. Additionally, some aspects of the microelectronics applications project to which £11 million has been committed in 1979–80 are relevant. The total is around 6 to 7 per cent. of the Department's estimate for expenditure on R & D this year.