§ 46. Mr. R. Morganasked the Lord Privy Seal what are to be the relations between the new Scientific Advisory Board which is to operate under his supervision and the Scientific Advisory Committee of the War Cabinet and the Engineering Advisory Committee, respectively?
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Sir Stafford Cripps)This Question should have been addressed to the Minister of Production, but I have been asked to reply. It would not be correct to describe the recent additions to the staff of the Minister of Production as a Board. As has been stated in the public announcement, the Minister of Production has appointed three distinguished men to his staff in the capacity of 523 full-time scientific advisers. Their field is co-extensive with the responsibility of the Minister. These appointments do not affect in any way the function of the Scientific Advisory Committee or the Engineering Advisory Committee of the War Cabinet, who will continue to advise the Government on matters coming within their terms of reference. In appropriate cases these Committees will, no doubt, consult with the scientific advisers of the Minister of Production, as they have been accustomed to consult with the scientific advisers of other Ministers before submitting their recommendations on matters connected with their Departments.