§ 6. Mr. Albuasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what is the meaning of the phrase, graduates or equivalent, in Table III of the Report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research on Research and Development Requirements of the Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Industries.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethThe heading "graduates or equivalent" refers to the definition of "qualified" scientists and technologists used, by the Ministry of Labour and the Committee on Scientific Manpower of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy, in the surveys of Scientific and Engineering Manpower carried out in 1956 and 1959.
§ Mr. AlbuIs the Parliamenary Secretary aware that this definition is completely misleading? The White Papers drawn up by the Ministry of Labour on Scientific and Engineering Manpower very carefully avoid this definition. In the shipbuilding industry the majority of qualified people are members of the Institute of Marine Engineers who obtained their qualification when they obtained a Board of Trade sea-going certificate, which has no resemblance whatsoever to a university graduate's qualification?
§ Mr. FreethIf it would make the matter clearer, I will arrange for a detailed note of the qualifications referred to by the hon. Member in his supplementary question to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. AlbuDoes not the Parliamentary Secretary agree, however, that the definition was carefully avoided in the White Papers on Scientific and Engineering Manpower?
§ Mr. FreethIn the shipbuilding industry the surveys did not cover technicians, with the exception of those holding Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas, nor craftsmen, nor skilled operatives. In so far as it went, the definition was in itself restricted.