asked the Secretary of State for Employment what studies he has made of the areas in which employment prospects will be adversely affected as a consequence of the introduction of the silicon chip process.

My Department set up a study group on microelectronics in July last year. Work on this subject had, of course, been going on in the DE group before this. The study group is looking at the potential impact of microelectronic technology on employment over the next five to 10 years and will be studying all sectors of the economy likely to be affected by the technology. The study group contributed the results of some of its early studies to the CPRS report that was made available following the meeting of the NEDC on 6 December and hope to produce its own report in the summer.