HC Deb 12 April 1962 vol 657 cc1497-9
Q3. Mr. K. Lewis

asked the Prime Minister whether the speech of the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science to the Federation of British Industries at Eastbourne on 6th April, about Great Britain's industrial survival, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

The Prime Minister

My noble Friend the Lord President's speech was entirely consistent with the policy of the Government.

Mr. Lewis

Does my right hon. Friend recall that the Lord President of the Council is reported to have said that there was a danger of Britain becoming a cross between a museum and a curiosity shop? Is he aware that, although I represent a very ancient county, I feel that I am part, not of a museum nor of a curiosity shop, but of a modern, thriving and virile community? Today, this country is celebrating twenty-five years of the invention of the jet engine. We are putting the first hovercraft into service, and goodness knows what else into space. Would it not be a good idea if we went out and advertised ourselves in the world as a very modern, thriving Great Britain?

The Prime Minister

I think that we have every right to do that, but at the same time I think that my noble Friend, in the part of the speech to which I gave special attention, urged that we must try to keep what he called one move ahead in technology, design, organisation, salesmanship, management, industrial relations, and so forth. It is always difficult exactly to keep the balance, but I think that this kind of speech is valuable, and I myself agreed with it.

Mr. Gaitskell

In view of the fact that the Lord President of the Council, in the course of his interesting and, indeed, challenging speech, referred specially to the grave weakness in industry concerning research, can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what the Government propose to do to make industry, to use the noble Lord's phrase, "more science based" than it is today?

The Prime Minister

Of course, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, there are already various financial incentives for research expenditure. If he has a more detailed point in mind, perhaps he will table a Question.

Sir C. Taylor

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Member for Eastbourne was at this function, that he listened to the speech with great joy, that it was completely unexceptionable and that it is unfair to take one small statement in the speech out of context?

Mr. M. Foot

While the speech of the Minister for Science may have been in strict conformity with the Government's policy, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he would care to say whether he thought that it was delivered in better English?

The Prime Minister

I have the greatest regard for and much experience of my noble Friend's high standard of scholarship.