HC Deb 26 January 1949 vol 460 cc920-1
48. Mr. Cobb

asked the Lord President of the Council what further action will be taken to bring to the notice of the smaller firms in industry the result of research work being carried out in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and in research associations.

The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)

The action being taken is a steady expansion of the existing methods of getting information across to the smaller firms. These include articles in technical and trade journals, leaflets and pamphlets written in simple language, films, exhibitions, local conferences and personal visits. It is one of the principal tasks of the Intelligence Division of D.S.I.R. Headquarters to ensure that these methods are used to the best advantage so that the expert knowledge and advice of the establishments of D.S.I.R. may be available to all who seek them. Similar methods are used by the research associations.

Mr. Cobb

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that perhaps other methods might prove a little more fruitful, and will he consider employing a small number of technical specialists for the purpose of visiting these factories and explaining these new methods to the people on the spot?

Mr. Morrison

Such a service, though. possibly, not as extensive as my hon. Friend would wish, is available from the research associations, and the cost of belonging to them is quite limited. However, I do not disagree with what my hon. Friend is aiming at, and I will do what I can to see that this development takes place.

Mr. Edgar Granville

Does the Lord President's answer mean that all governmental research which is available to the large nationalised industries will also be available to the small production units in this country?

Mr. Morrison

Governmental research is not specially carried out for the benefit of the nationalised industries. It has always been undertaken for the benefit of industry as a whole, and that is still so. We would not be guilty of such improper discrimination.

Mr. Osborne

Would the Lord President agree that most small firms have been taking full advantage of the facilities offered, and are running quite efficiently at the present time?

Mr. Morrison

I think it is the case that many small factories are being very well run, but the small factory owners are always willing to learn more, and we are willing to assist them in that direction.

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