§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what share of the market in cable production of all kinds is taken by United Kingdom manufacturers; and what share he estimates they will have over the next three years.
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§ Mr. ButcherIt is estimated that United Kingdom manufacturers of insulated wires and cables—principal products of activity heading 3410 of the current standard industrial classification—had an 85 per cent. share in 1983 of the home market for those products.
No official forecasts have ben made for this ratio for future years, but I have no doubt that United Kingdom manufacturers will compete vigorously to maintain and improve their share.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that the cable systems to be built in the United Kingdom are based on up-to-date technology.
§ Mr. ButcherYes. It was a condition of the cable pilot project scheme that licences should be issued for proposals which appeared likely to offer the most positive contribution to the application of advanced technology in this field.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of cable laid in the United Kingdom for communication or entertainment purposes he anticipates being (a) fibre optic and (b) copper coaxial.
§ Mr. ButcherIt seems likely that optical fibre technology will become increasingly competitive in all parts of data transmission and cable television networks. Forecasts are sensitive to a number of rapidly changing technical and economic factors. It would be misleading therefore for me to make a specific forecast.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the new cable operators will be using fibre optic systems.
§ Mr. ButcherAlthough it was not a condition of the cable pilot scheme, a majority of the 11 pilot applicants with whom we are holding discussions plans to make use of fibre optic cable.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of copper coaxial used in the United Kingdom is produced in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. ButcherThe information requested is not available.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of fibre optic cables used in the United Kingdom is produced in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. ButcherThe information requested is not available.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investment there has been in research and development of fibre optic cabling systems in the United Kingdom in the last five years.
§ Mr. ButcherStatistics of industrial expenditure on research and development are not collected in sufficient detail to answer the question. However, the Department makes grants through the fibre optics and opto-electronics scheme under the Science and Technology Act and the Industrial Development Act. Since the scheme started in July 1981, offers have been made in fibre optic cable and systems excluding opto-electronics which, if fully taken up, are expected to lead to projects amounting to £145 million.