HC Deb 26 February 1986 vol 92 cc585-6W
30. Mr. Norman Hogg

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about redundancies in the electronics and computer industries in Scotland.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The pace of technological change in the electronics industry inevitably means that some companies will be forced to shed labour as products and processes become outdated while others will increase their employment as new products are developed. This, coupled with the effects of acute world recession in the markets for certain electronics products, notably semiconductors and integrated circuits, has resulted in a higher level of job losses in 1985 than in the past. There are signs, however, that markets are beginning to recover and the medium to longer term prospect is for further growth in the electronics industry in Scotland.