asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many grants have been made under the microprocessor application project scheme for each year since its inception; and if he will give a regional breakdown of the location of those firms assisted for every year since its inception.

The figures for offers of grants for feasibility studies and development projects under the microprocessor application project (MAP) are as follows:

	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82
England
North-East	19	49	47	41
North-West	40	150	113	108
Yorkshire and Humberside	37	114	106	124
West Midlands	37	127	98	97
East Midlands	24	92	68	80
South-West	32	79	58	77
South-East	231	488	387	370
Wales	15	20	17	27
Scotland	8	53	67	71
Northern Ireland*	0	29	18	26
TOTAL	443	1,201	979	1,021
* Feasibility study grants only.

It is up to companies to put forward projects for support. However, MAP also includes a range of activities designed to increase industrial awareness of microelectronic applications and the Government assistance available, especially in regions where take up appears to be low.