§ 64. Mr. Patrick Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the application of advanced technology by manufacturing firms.
§ Mr. ButcherIn 1984, the last year for which complete outturn figures were available, investment in manufacturing industry amounted to £6.4 billion at 1980 prices and it is expected that the outturn for 1985 will be nearly £6.8 billion at 1980 prices, an increase of 6 per cent. above the level for 1984. The amount of investment in advanced technology is included in these figures but is not collected separately.
Some indication of investment in the application of advanced technology in engineering manufacture is given by a survey showing that the installed base of computers, software and hardware, for engineering was £900 million in 1985, an increase of 100 per cent. over 1984. A survey on the use of microelectronics estimated that 47 per cent. of manufacturing firms were using this technology in their products and processes in 1983.