HC Deb 02 April 1984 vol 57 c373W
Dr. Marek

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if there are any plans by the Science and Engineering Research Council to reduce the number of universities and other establishments that have a multi-user mini-computer that forms part of the network of the interactive computing facility; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brooke

I understand that, as part of an overall rationalisation of the provision of computing facilities for science and engineering research, SERC has decided to phase out the following multi-user mini-computers which form part of the council's interactive computing facility:

  • Bradford University
  • Cranfield Institute of Technology
  • Edinburgh University
  • Glasgow University
  • Heriot-Watt University
  • Newcastle University
  • Nottingham University
  • Queen Mary College, London

The Edinburgh machine will be replaced directly by more modem facilities. Machines at Sussex university and University College London are under-used and may be deployed elsewhere.

I further understand that the council is considering whether to relocate the remaining ICF machines to give a better geographical distribution. Users of the machines which are to be phased out will be provided with alternative means of access to machines at other sites, through SERC's interactive computing network.

Dr. Marek

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those universities and other establishments that have a multi-user mini computer that forms part of the network of the interactive computing facility of the Science and Engineering Research Council.

Mr. Brooke

The list is as follows:

  1. (i) Universities
    • Birmingham
    • Bradford Bristol
    • Cambridge
    • City
    • East Anglia
    • Edinburgh
    • Glasgow
    • Heriot-Watt
    • Leeds
    • Manchester
    • Newcastle
    • Nottingham
    • Queen Mary College, London
    • Sheffield
    • Southampton
    • Surrey
    • Sussex
    • University College, London
    • University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
    • University of Wales (Cardiff)
    • University of Wales (Swansea)
    • Warwick
  2. (ii) Other institutions
    • Cranfield Institute of Technology
    • Leicester Polytechnic
    • Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, SERC (6 machines)