HC Deb 07 December 1988 vol 143 c168W
22. Mr. Ian Bruce

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what he is doing to encourage collaboration between universities and industry in the field of information technology research.

Mr. Forth

The Alvey programme successfully brings together industry and universities in collaborative IT research, and will continue until 1991–92. Support for collaboration between industry and universities will continue through further national and European IT research programmes, particularly Esprit and our new advanced technology programme, launched by my predecessor in July 1988, to which there has already been a most encouraging response.