§ 46. Mr. Errollasked the Prime Minister if he will cause an inquiry to be made to discover whether the sum of £161,433,349 included in the Estimates for all Departments of State for research and development has been wisely and effectively expended.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. No inquiry could possibly cover this very wide field. Departmental Ministers are responsible for the wise and effective expenditure of the sums voted for research and development in their Estimates, as for other expenditure.
§ Mr. ErrollIs the Prime Minister satisfied that the same careful scrutiny is carried out with regard to research and development projects as undoubtedly takes place with regard to other forms of national expenditure?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. But the matter is a very difficult one and I can easily see that strong Parliamentary views might develop upon it. In the present difficult conditions of the world, I am prepared to follow the precedent set by the late Administration.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the Prime Minister aware that money spent in this country in research has brought greater dividends by taking this country ahead of the whole world in many branches of engineering and other achievements and that it would be a great tragedy if we cut down on what must eventually determine the fate of this country?
§ The Prime MinisterI certainly think that credit is due to all those who have taken part in the very great developments of our research. I should not like to draw the conclusion that this advance and these improvements have been due to the fact that this large branch of expenditure has been, for the time being, withdrawn from accurate Parliamentary scrutiny.