§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many workers are employed in the optoelectronics industry in Scotland; and what action he is taking to encourage the transfer of research findings from Scottish universities into high-tech companies. [7266]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 20 December 1995]: The Scottish register of employment shows that 41.800 persons were employed in electronics in 1993. The register does not take account of companies with fewer than 11 employees and there is no separate category for optoelectronics. A survey carried out in 1992 by Scottish Enterprise estimated that there were at that time 1,300 people employed in optoelectronics in Scotland.
459WThere are a number of schemes available to assist collaborative research, product development and transfer of technology and skill. These include the SMART and SPUR schemes administered by my Department, and LINK and the teaching company scheme for which the Department of Trade and Industry has lead responsibility. The issue of how to improve the commercial exploitation of academic research is being addressed in an inquiry being undertaken by Scottish Enterprise and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.