HC Deb 26 January 1944 vol 396 cc687-8
50. Mr. Maxton

asked the Lord President of the Council to what extent the Government are associated with the recently-established National Shipbuilding Research Council; whether they will be represented on the Council and with a share in its work; and whether its work will include study of the economic as well as the technical problems of the industry.

Mr. Attlee

The British Shipbuilding Research Association is now in course of being established. The negotiations have been conducted in close consultation with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Under the memorandum and articles of association, which are at present under consideration, it will be open to the Association to apply to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for grant in aid of its work. The Department has been invited to nominate two members to serve on the Council of the Association and on the Board which will formulate and supervise the programme of research, on which representatives of Admiralty and Ministry of War Transport have also been invited to serve. The programme of research has not yet been formulated.