§ 7. Mr. Gurdenasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, in view of Russian advances in some aspects of scientific research on iron and steel technology, what steps have been taken to encourage the exchange of scientific 6 information and experience on this subject between this country and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
§ Mr. H. NichollsIn addition to the normal arrangements made for exchanges of technical literature, preliminary visits were exchanged towards the end of last year between the British Iron and Steel Research Association, which is the cooperative research organisation grant-aided by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and a corresponding research organisation in the U.S.S.R. Consequently it was agreed by the two organisations that there should be exchange visits by small groups of specialists to study certain facets of metallurgical research.
§ Mr. GurdenHave any of these exchange visits actually taken place? If so, what subjects of particular interest to the British team were discussed?
§ Mr. NichollsThe first British group, who were specialists in the continuous casting of steel, visited Russia in April, and we expect the Russian group to visit this country in June, but I cannot give the exact date.