13. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what steps are taken by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to ensure that there is no undesirable overlap in the work of the grant-aided co-operative research associations serving the textile industries.
§ Mr. H. NichollsThere are close direct contacts between the nine associations in this group, viz., cotton, wool, linen, jute, rayon, hosiery, lace, "hat and felt," and launderers. In addition, 10 years ago the D.S.I.R. established, a Standing Consultative Conference on Textile Research to avoid undesirable duplication and to promote collaboration among the various research associations, or equivalent organisations engaged in textile research, whether in receipt of grant aid from the Department or not.
Mr. Gresham CookeDoes my hon. Friend think that the conference meets often enough, and has its work justified its ten-year life?
§ Mr. NichollsI think so. The main conference meets every year, and the effective committee of it, which does the main work, meets every quarter. I do not think there is any doubt that it has justified its existence so far.