HL Deb 28 January 1964 vol 254 cc1084-5
LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government for a statement on the current position in regard to the development of the Technical Information Services for Industry.]

THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGH

In co-operation with the Ministry of Education the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are initiating a scheme for extending industrial liaison facilities through the colleges of advanced technology and technical colleges. The establishment of ten new industrial liaison centres has been authorised this year and a further expansion is planned for 1965 and 1966.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, may I thank my noble friend for his most welcome statement regarding the setting up of industrial liaison officers and an industrial officer service in England which I presume would be complementary to the D.S.I.R. regional technical information centres? Can my noble friend give an assurance that there will be a close link between the colleges and industry and, especially, liaison with small firms? And could I finally ask him two questions? Which are the ten technical colleges to which industrial liaison officers will be appointed this year; and who is going to pay? In other words, how will this scheme be financed?

THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGH

My Lords, in regard to the first question regarding the existing regional technical information centres, these will, of course, be absorbed into the new scheme wherever possible. Certainly the new facilities should greatly benefit the small firms, and there is no doubt that these facilities will provide a very valuable link between industry, research and education. Both colleges and industry can certainly teach each other a great deal. I might add that the D.S.I.R. will be paying two-thirds of the cost and the remaining one-third will be found in the normal way through college finances.

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, could the noble Earl say roughly how big some of these industrial liaison centres will be in terms of numbers of staff or people working in the centres?

THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGH

My Lords, I have not, in fact, full details, and I should prefer to write a letter to the noble Lord on this point. At any rate, ten colleges will be selected; and perhaps I might add, because I did not in fact fully answer the question of the noble Lord, Lord Merrivale, that it is hoped to name these colleges within the next fortnight. But in regard to the question of the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, I will make further inquiries.