News story

Minister Commends Work Of ELC

Margaret Hodge, Minister of State (Industry and the Regions) at the Department of Trade and Industry, attended the December meeting of the ELC and expressed her support for the positive role played by the council in promoting the interests of the UK electronics sector.

ELC members were able to provide the Minister with extensive background on the pervasive nature of electronics, which supports almost every other sector of the industrial economy from aerospace to automotive product development, and the consequent value of electronics both to British industry and the UK economy as a whole.

Harry Tee, chairman of the Electronics Leadership Council said: “We were able to provide the Minister with clear insights into the work of the ELC and give some key pointers as to the ways in which government can act to improve the performance of UK electronics. In particular we highlighted the importance of working within the education sector and providing funding for the Electronics in Schools initiative, the need to encourage the appointment of electronics specialists in the regional development agencies and devolved assemblies, the importance of supporting the electronics sector’s export potential through the work of UK Trade & Investment, and the need to change the direction of public procurement in order to enable the wider participation of the SMEs which form such a large part of the UK electronics sector.”

Speaking following the meeting Margaret Hodge said: “Electronics continues to play an important role in the UK economy. I am delighted that the Electronics Leadership Council is playing such a positive role in furthering the interests of the sector. The ELC provides a valuable insight into the strategic challenges facing the sector and is adding value in what it does. I am particularly pleased on the importance they have placed on education.”
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Date added: 19 December 2006