§ 6. Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Supply how many scientists are employed by his Department; and what is the nature of their employment.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesThere are 3,962 officers of the two senior classes of scientists and 1,423 scientific assistants in the Ministry of Supply. The great majority are employed at establishments on research and development work to meet the requirements of the Fighting Services, principally the Army and the Royal Air Force. Much of this research, however, has civil as well as military applications.
§ Mr. ShinwellCan the right hon. Gentleman say, in view of the large number of scientists, technologists and technicians employed by his Department, what are the notable achievements in the military sphere for which they have been responsible? Can the right hon. Gentleman indicate what they are?
§ Mr. JonesYes, Sir. I would have thought that British bombers were certainly equal to American bombers. They are the product not entirely of the Minister of Supply; the firms come into it. I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will recognise this tribute to British achievement.
§ Mr. Shinwellis that the right hon. Gentleman's opinion, or is it the general consensus of opinion in this country, the United States and N.A.T.O., that we have the best military aircraft?
§ Mr. JonesI would have thought that I was choosing an example of the general consensus of opinion. Quite apart from that, let us take surface-to-air guided missiles. If the right hon. Gentleman will canvass opinion on the European Continent today he will find that, by and large, 875 European opinion is more favourably disposed to British surface-to-air guided missiles than to American.