§ 30. Mr. Dudley Williamsasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present staff of the National Research Development Corporation at their offices in Tilney Street, W.1; and what increase is expected over the next two years.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftSince the Corporation is an independent organisation, I could not accept responsibility for answering Questions about its day-to-day activities. I understand, however, that the total staff in question numbers about 70, but I have no information about what increase, if any, the Corporation expects over the next two years, which must obviously vary according to the work undertaken at any time.
§ 31. Mr. Dudley Williamsasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the National Research Development Corporation is financed out of public funds.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftSection 7 of the Development of Inventions Act, 1948, empowers the Board of Trade, with the consent of the Treasury, to make advances to the Corporation of up to £5 million within five years of its establishment, approximately £480,000 had been advanced up to June, 1953. The Corporation has also a small but increasing income from royalties and profits.
§ Mr. WilliamsHas my right hon. Friend any control over the manner in which the money advanced by his Department to this Corporation is spent, because I understand that in the next two years it will be spending something like £20,000 on the Tilney Street offices and that no substantial increase in staff is expected?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftAs my hon. Friend will see from studying the answer this 2141 organisation has pursued a very conservative financial policy, because out of a limit of £5 million it has spent only £480,000.