§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if his Department is currently sponsoring research into communication superhighways.
§ Mr. McLoughlinMy Department sponsors a diverse range of activities at European and national level which underpin the developments of advanced information highways.
At the European level, the Community has so far spent over 1 becu—£700 million—through the research in advanced communications for Europe—RACE—programme. The research carried out will assist the development of integrated broadband communications.
At a national level, my Department jointly sponsors with the Science and Engineering Research Council, the following relevant link programmes: personal communications, £20 million, higher performance interfaces and protocols, £8 million, computer supported co-operative work, £13 million, and optoelectronic systems, £30 million.
A recent study conducted for the Department of the international competitiveness of the United Kingdom telecommunications infrastructure concluded that the United Kingdom's existing information infrastructure can stand comparison with the best in the world. The work referred to will help to ensure that United Kingdom maintains this position.