§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy towards financial self-sufficiency for information technology centres.
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£ million 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Crude Trade Balance -75 +28 -18 -289 -284 -121 (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) Hides, skins and furskins (21) 22 +19 22 0 27 +20 23 -15 30 +32 35 +18 Cork and Wood (24) 103 +7 106 +3 72 -32 84 +17 105 +25 119 +13 Textile fibres (26) 19 +19 11 -42 11 -2 11 -3 4 -65 2 -59 Petroleum and petroleum products (33) 238 -10 180 -24 226 +25 422 +87 456 +8 562 +23 Cork and wood manufactures (63) 12 +16 11 -7 7 -34 11 +55 12 +6 15 +23
§ Mr. PattieThe funding provided by my Department to information technology centres is intended to be used in part to create revenue generating activities. I am pleased to announce that in addition to this support my Department, in conjunction with the Manpower Services Commission, is currently setting up a national marketing organisation which it is considered will be of great help to centres in moving towards self-sufficiency. This facility should be available for the use of all ITeCs early in the new year.