§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will consult the British Technology Group to make a statement as to the future of the computer-aided design centre; and if he will seek to ensure that the centre is not allowed to pass into foreign ownership.
§ Mr. ButcherThe future of the computer aided design centre is not a matter for the British Technology Group. The CAD centre is one of the Department of Industry's research establishments and my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Information Technology announced on 31 March 1982 that consideration would be given to transferring the CAD centre to the private sector.
It is important that the work of the centre, which is of considerable value to our industry, continues to be done in the United Kingdom.