asked the Secretary of State for Industry what consideration he is giving to sponsoring the establishment of a showpiece factory where automation is total.

The Government are anxious to encourage the rapid adoption by British industry of automated, flexible manufacturing systems where they can assist the quality and competitiveness of British products. A support scheme is in preparation under which an automated factory project could qualify. However, any such project would have to be commercially viable in the longer term and not merely a showpiece factory.