§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the value of silicon chips produced and manufactured in Great Britain in each of the past two years.
§ Mr. ButcherSilicon chips are not identified as such in official statistics of manufacturer's sales. They are included among "semi-conductor devices" and "electronic integrated microcircuits" in table 1 of "Business Monitor PQ 364"—2nd. Q. 1982—a copy of which is in the Library.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Industry what assistance his Department is giving to silicon chip development and manufacture; and if he will list the location of the principal projects being assisted.
§ Mr. ButcherSilicon chip development and manufacture is supported under the £55 million microelectronic industry support programme. £49 million has been committed or earmarked. Projects under consideration will account for a further £6 million.
The distribution of project funding by location is:
per cent. Scotland 18 North West 25 South West 24 East Midlands 17 West Midlands 1 South East 15 with the largest projects at East Kilbride (Motorola), Oldham (Ferranti), Lincoln (GEC) and Swindon and Plympton (Plessey).