HC Deb 04 December 1962 vol 668 cc1110-1
2. Mr. Albu

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether the terms of reference of the Committee on Civil Scientific Research include the problems involved in Government support of technological development.

Mr. Denzil Freeth

This Committee is concerned with organisation, and so far as the problems concerned are, or cannot be dissociated from, organisational problems, they are within the terms of reference.

Mr. Albu

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the existing Committee is sufficiently strong on the scientific and engineering side to be able to make the sort of recommendations concerning, for instance, development contracts in industry, and other ways of supporting more scientific industrial development which obviously is necessary?

Mr. Freeth

The purpose of the Committee is to consider matters raised within its terms of reference. It is primarily a Committee to deal with the organisation that should exist between Government and science, and I think that its members are excellent people for this purpose.