HC Deb 05 March 1979 vol 963 cc459-60W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what action he intends to take in the light of the recommendations in the fourth industrial strategy report to the National Economic Development Organisation by a working party of the domestic appliances industry stressing the urgency of British manufacturers concentrating on microelectronics, especially in the home laundry sector.

Mr. Les Huckfield

In its fourth report to the National Economic Development Council, the Domestic Electrical Appliances sector working party made no specific recommendation on that matter. However the SWP, in stressing the importance of the fullest use of microelectronic technology in the industry's products, pointed out that the onus rested with the companies. The Government's interest in and assistance for microelectronic developments was welcomed in the report, and this assistance is, of course, available to companies manufacturing domestic electrical appliances.