§ Mr. Sayeedasked the Prime Minister (1) what applications Her Majesty's Government have received for public funds in connection with the setting up of the Information Industries Association; and if she will make a statement;
(2) which Government Departments have had any involvement in the setting up of the Information Industries Association; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterIn its report "Making a Business of Information" the Information Technology Advisory Panel (ITAP) saw the need for an umbrella representative trade body, which it called the Information Industries Association (IIA). I anticipate that the Government's response to ITAP's report will be made public shortly. A meeting of existing trade groupings with an interest in this area met recently in the Cabinet Office to discuss forming themselves into an IIA: officials from the Cabinet Office, DTI, Office of Arts and Libraries and the British Library were present. Whilst the Government welcome these moves, it is, as ITAP recognised, for the private sector 171W rather than for the Government to take the initiative. No applications for funds to set up an organisation of the kind envisaged have been received.