§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will take steps to encourage the manufacture of video recording equipment in the United Kingdom under licence from one of the major Japanese producers.
§ Mr. ButcherThe Department has actively encouraged the production in the United Kingdom of video tape recorders (VTRs). It has been able to offer assistance to one joint venture company set up to produce VTRs, and stands ready to help other new ventures in this field. In addition two Japanese companies, Mitsubishi and Sanyo, have announced plans to commence the assembly of VTRs later this year in Scotland and at Lowestoft respectively. We welcome these developments and hope that the companies concerned will move rapidly towards manufacturing processes incorporating United Kingdom components.