![]() I must express the gratitude of the Opposition to the noble Lord, Lord Birdwood, for raising this Question because it is a question of the technology of the future and also a question of what government could or should be doing to support the development of technology. ![]() My Lords, I too shall not detain your Lordships very long. To use the happy phrase of the noble Lord, Lord Birdwood, we are now discussing a substance which is "at the threshold of explosive growth" and it has to be nourished for the benefit of British resources. The Government are fully aware of the great importance of the development of gallium arsenide. I shall not pursue the interesting channels that the noble Lord tempted me to enter. I am not as sceptical as the noble Lord, Lord Birdwood, about the reply of the Government on this important matter. ![]() ![]() I do not propose to take up any more of your Lordships' time. It may be that the Government have ideas of developing research on gallium arsenide in the context of the Eureka EC project and, if he is going to suggest that, perhaps the Minister would endeavour to indicate how far it is possible for British firms to protect their rights in future developments in that area. I apologise for the fact that it is only a few minutes ago that I indicated to the noble Lord that I would be asking questions about developments in a EC context and I do not expect that he will be giving an answer during the course of this debate. One characteristic of the Esprit project which appeals to me is that about a dozen companies in Europe have got together to help in certain research projects without any problems arising from patent rights, intellectual property rights, competition rights and so on. I wonder whether the research work on gallium arsenide could, for instance, come within the well-known Esprit project which your Lordships discussed a few weeks ago. There has been no mention so far-and I should like to hear what the Government have to say-as to whether they have plans in a EC context. They use those powers of extra-territorial rights, about which they are so pleased, and anti-trust arrangements, although anti-trust arrangements have become very much diluted in the last three years under the Reagan Government. In the course of professional activities, I am fully aware that American interests somehow try to dominate what happens in the United Kingdom and in the EC. The noble Lord, Lord Birdwood, made no mention of what is happening in a USA context or of what is happening in a EC context. The phrase "United Kingdom resource" is full of potential for future success or failure, and I would emphasise the phrase at this stage. Therefore, when we know that firms like Plessey have made such an investment in gallium arsenide, what the noble Lord is asking the Government to do is to tell your Lordships what plans they have formulated for its developments as a United Kingdom resource. Your Lordships will of course know of the vast investment made by the Plessey Company in projects, many of them secret, associated with defence sales as well as in industry using the characteristics of gallium arsenide. I am sure that many noble Lords will be aware of the initiative taken by a number of firms in using gallium arsenide in the course of their research. ![]() Gallium arsenide is a vital element in fast computer development. I am glad to have the support of the Labour Front Bench on that ground at least.Īt least I can say this. I am sure that your Lordships will have spotted that that quotation was virtually verbatim. That commendably clear document makes a number of technical comparisons between gallium arsenide and silicon and focuses on the central issue which must hang over any development strategy the key problem in the application of the technology lies in predicting which, if any, of the fundamental factors in its favour is sufficiently significant to generate a business return commensurate with the investment required. In the last 12 months one crucial report has been completed, usually referred to as the Coupland Working Group report, prepared by the Advanced Devices and Materials Committee, and entitled A UK Strategy for Gallium Arsenide. In March of last year in another place the honourable Member for Yeovil initiated a debate on gallium arsenide which was answered by the Minister, who outlined certain responses and initiatives which were being contemplated. This is not the first time this subject has been aired in Parliament. ![]()
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