HC Deb 08 May 1956 vol 552 cc1010-2
49. Mr. E. Fletcher

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what proposals Her Majesty's Government have to give effect to the recommendations of the committee of inquiry into the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Mr. Bevins

The recommendations in the committee's interim report, recently published as a White Paper, form the basis of the main provisions of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bill, which has passed through all its stages in another place and has been introduced in this House. The committee's final report, which is not being published, does not make positive recommendations for action now but contains a number of suggestions for the consideration of the new research council which it is proposed to set up under the Bill.

Mr. Fletcher

But the interim report is only a very partial document. In view of the devastating criticisms which it contains, does not the Minister think that the full report should be published before this House is invited to consider the Second Reading of the Bill?

Mr. Bevins

No, Sir. I do not agree that the interim report contains devastating criticisms of the D.S.I.R. I should like to make it plain that the positive recommendations contained in the first report are being written into the D.S.I.R. Bill, which has been presented to this House. The proposals made in the committee's second report are simply suggestions for the consideration of the research council, when it is set up.

Mr. Fletcher

Can the Minister say why the full report cannot be published before the House is invited to consider the Second Reading of the Bill?

Mr. Bevins

Yes—for the very good reason that the second report of the Jephcott Committee is quite clearly a report containing suggestions for the consideration of the research council when it is set up.