§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had with suppliers of super computers other than from the United States of America about he possible supply of such computers to United Kingdom educational and research institutions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldenA working party under the chairmanship by Professor A. J. Forty of the University of Warwick considered the technical solutions offered by Japanese as well as by United States suppliers for providing the academic community with facilities for advanced research computing. The Department, through the Computer Board for Universities and Research Councils, is also in contact with United Kingdom and overseas suppliers who may be able to offer computing equipment that will form the basis of the next generation of supercomputers or provide alternative systems for meeting the advanced computing requirements of educational and research institutions. In particular a group under the chairmanship of Professor E. B. Spratt of the University of Kent is examining the technical options for providing distributed high performance systems. Two specific developments are already in hand. First, Edinburgh University has been chosen as the first United Kingdom site to receive a British-built "Meiko Computing Surface", a machine providing advanced graphics capability based on chips designed and manufactured by the British company Inmos. Second, a distributed array processor supplied by the United Kingdom company International Computers Limited has been installed at Queen Mary College, London, and discussions are taking place with the company about other advanced developments.