CIVIL SERVICE (SCIENTISTS) (Hansard, 10 November 1960)

§ 41. Mr. Ginsburg
asked the Prime Minister what instructions he has given to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister for Science, in view of the difficulties of recruitment of scientists to the Civil Service as revealed in paragraphs 9 and 33–37 of the Civil Service Commission's Report.

§ The Prime Minister
None, Sir. The Ministers concerned are well aware of the difficulties, which are under constant examination by the Civil Service Commission and the interested Departments. The problem is not easy to solve because of the general shortage of scientists in the country as a whole.

§ Mr. Ginsburg
Does the Prime Minister think that his reply does justice to the seriousness of this problem at the present time? Is he not aware that half the vacancies in the Senior Scientific Officer grade are going unfilled and that 80 per cent. of the vacancies in the Scientific Officer Grade are going unfilled? Does he not think that this reflects both on the pay level in the scientific Civil Service and on the utter inadequacy of the Government's scientific manpower policy? Does he not feel that this is a matter for urgent inquiry?

§ The Prime Minister
There has been an enormous extension of scientific education which will produce results, but it takes some time. As for the pull on the supply, which I admit is inadequate, between industry and the Government service, that is being studied by the Pay Research Unit, which is about to make a report.

§ Mr. Gaitskell
As the Civil Service Commission described this as a situation which gave rise to grave anxiety, is it enough to wait for the long-term results of increasing the number of scientists? Should there not be some interim policy in order to increase the recruitment to the Civil Service?

§ The Prime Minister
It is not so much a shortage as a tremendous demand in modern industry and technology for the scientists of many different grades, ranging from very high research scientists to comparatively junior personnel. I do not necessarily accept that it is the demand of industry which has injured the Civil Service's claim, but that matter is being considered. If there is a question of pay, we must certainly put it right, but it will not make the number of scientists any greater.