§ 49. Mr. CHORLTONasked the Lord President of the Council whether it is proposed to increase the total sum granted to research covering a period of years?
§ The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)The total sum provided for industrial, agricultural, and medical research in the Estimates now before Parliament for the current financial year is £1,252,989, as compared with £1,138,708 voted for the year 1935—an increase of approximately 10 per cent. I am unable to forecast the amounts to be included in the Estimates for future years; but, so far as I am concerned, the requirements in the various branches of research will be considered from time to time as heretofore by the Advisory Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the Medical Research Council or the Agricultural Research Council, as the case may be, and financial provision made after consideration of their recommendations.
§ Mr. CHORLTONWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for his answer, may I ask if it is quite definite that there is to be no provision made for five years ahead—no five-year plan?
§ Mr. MacDONALDI think my hon. Friend knows enough of the Parliamentary practice to know that that is quite impossible.
Mr. DAVIDSONIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the sums confined to the question of medical research as compared with the sums confined to the question of armaments?
§ 50. Mr. CHORLTONasked the Lord President of the Council whether it is proposed to encourage in future a more active policy in research by firms and industries which do not normally pursue this policy by canvassing them specially with the offer of assistance by grants on certain conditions?
§ Mr. R. MacDONALDThe Government scheme for co-operative research by means of research associations is already widely known throughout the industrial community, and repeated allusions to its operations and development are to be found in the daily and technical Press. In view of these facts I do not, think any additional canvassing of industry such as my hon. Friend suggests would serve any useful purpose, but the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is ready at all times to discuss with responsible leaders of industry any schemes for cooperative research in which the Department might share, and takes every opportunity which arises of initiating such discussion.
Captain ARTHUR EVANSWhat steps are taken by the National Physical Laboratory to convey to interested firms the results of their experiments in new fields?
§ Mr. MacDONALDThe result of these experiments is communicated in accordance with circumstances. It is quite impossible to lay down a regular rule, because conditions vary so much, but I should be very much surprised if my hon. and gallant Friend could bring to my notice the case of an industrial firm of any importance that is unaware of the results of the National Physical Laboratory's research relating to its own industry.
Captain EVANSWhile that may be true so far as large firms are concerned, is it not somewhat difficult for small firms, who are as interested as others in these experiments, to obtain all the information necessary?
§ Mr. MacDONALDI shall certainly make inquiries, and if the methods can 1633 be improved to increase the knowledge of the smaller firms, I shall be delighted to make the change.