Written question asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 3 December 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 December 1998. It was answered by John Battle (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 December 1998 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what evaluation his Department is carrying out into the potential damage to transistors in microchips from background alpha and neutron radiation, following the recent report to the International Test Conference in Washington; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evaluation his Department is carrying out into the potential damage to transistors in microchips from background alpha and neutron radiation, following the recent report to the International Test Conference in Washington; and if he will make a statement. [62967] Mr. Battle: The issue of potential damage to transistors from background radiation is primarily a matter for those companies and organisations that design and manufacture microchips. My Department continues to monitor developments.

Secondary information