§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to liaise with the Ministries of Trade and Industry in France and the Federal Republic of Germany on advances made in those countries in their use of micro-electronics; and what investment he intends to make to enable British firms employing more than 20 people to use micro-electronics.
§ Mr. ButcherOfficials of the Department are in contact with their counterparts in France and the Federal Republic of Germany. This liaison includes the developing use of micro-electronics in all three countries.
The use of micro-electronics by British firms is promoted through the Micro-electronics Application Project (MAP) operated by the Department. Support is provided by the provision of seminars, industrial training, together with advice and consultancy for potential users. In addition, financial assistance has been provided for firms developing the use of micro-electronics in both products or processes. Currently this latter, in common with other R&D support activities of the Department, is under review. A statement on the future of selective financial assistance for industrial R&D, including MAP, will be made shortly.