§ 3. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will make a statement regarding methods for assisting the development of the results of research in the civil field.
§ 13. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether he is satisfied that the existing administrative machinery for applying science to industry is adequate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethThe Government must necessarily play a more restricted part in civil than in defence research and development because they are not, in the main, the consumers of the products of civil industry. Nevertheless, in the novel and costly field of atomic energy, civil research and development is mainly conducted by a Government-financed organisation. The N.R.D.C., financed by the Government, supports research and development projects which it judges will, in the long term, give an economic return. The D.S.I.R. is currently working on a number of proposals for civil development contracts and is concerned in a variety of other ways to stimulate the dissemination of research results and their application to industry. Co-operative research associations are financed by industry with supporting grants from D.S.I.R.
§ Mr. OsbornIs the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that this adequately follows up the recommendation of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy in its Annual Report last year?
§ Mr. FreethMy noble Friend and I are never satisfied, but we are pressing on.