§ Mr. Randallasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investment plans are being encouraged and made by the Government to counter the threat to the United Kingdom computer software and systems industry by heavy Japanese investment in innovative software tools.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThere are three principal actions being taken. First, we are restructuring the sofware products scheme to provide specific encouragement for the development and marketing of products employing software engineering techniques which include software tools. Revised guidelines to applicants will be available shortly from the national computing centre. Second, software engineering is a major component of the Alvey programme under which up to £350 million will be invested jointly by industry and Government. Third, my Department has been pursuing a specific initiative in the area of real time software tools and recently published the STARTS guide to "Software Tools for Application to large Real Time System". Work to follow this up is in hand and a STARTS technical seminar will take place on 13 April. In addition to the Department's involvement this work also has the support of NEDO, the national computing centre and the British Computer Society.