HC Deb 24 May 1984 vol 60 cc525-6W
Mr. Harvey

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many business computers were operational in (a) 1960, (b) 1970, (c) 1980, and (d) 1984; and if there are any projections for future years.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

Official statistics of the number of computers installed are not available. The figures given below have been compiled by BIS-Pedder, a commercial organisation. They refer to the stock of general purpose computers in the UK at the end of each year and exclude systems costing less than £500. Official projections of the numbers installed are not made.

General Purpose Computers: Numbers Installed in the United Kingdom
Year-end Number
1960 500
1970 6,500
1980 175,000
1983 *750,000
*=provisional.