§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration is being given to the longer-term financing of information technology centres; and how many are now in operation.
§ Mr. Trippier[pursuant to the reply, 14 May 1984, c. 14]: Information technology centres are jointly financed by the Department of Trade and Industry, the Manpower Services Commission and individual scheme sponsors. My Department's support is of a pump priming nature and will be received in most cases by an individual ITEC for three years. Well advanced plans exist to ensure that centres are able to remain viable after DTI support ceases. I am hopeful that an announcement will be made very soon.
Currently there are 133 established ITECs and plans exist to extend the total number of centres to 175.