§ 59. Mr. Haywardasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the progress of the United Kingdom microelectronics industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ButcherThe United Kingdom microelectronics industry has performed well in recent years. According to the Electronic Components Industry Federation, the United Kingdom market for semiconductors grew by 40 per cent. last year to reach £600 million and is predicted to reach £1 billion in 1985. Consumption of integrated circuits has doubled over the last two years, growing from 20 per cent. to nearly 30 per cent. of the European market. The United Kingdom's electronics products now use a higher proportion of integrated circuits (by value) than any other country in Europe. Although our success can conveniently be measured by comparison with the rest of Europe, the major competitive threat remains Japan and the United States. The Government intend to continue to give encouragement to the industry to enable it to meet this threat through measures such as the Alvey programme of collaborative research into advanced information technology, the microelectronics industry support programme, and the microelectronics application project.