Scientists (Emigration)

HC Deb 28 May 1962 vol 660 cc948-9

7. Mr. Mason

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what steps his Department is taking to slow down the loss of scientific manpower from this country to Canada and the United States of America.

Mr. Denzil Freeth

The Atomic Energy Authority, the D.S.I.R., and the Civil Service Commission now have arrangements under which British postgraduate research workers resident in Canada or in the United States can be interviewed for posts in this country. During the last two years 72 appointments in this country have been filled in this way, and the numbers interviewed are increasing annually.

Mr. Mason

To what extent does that mean success? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that figures do not mean much unless we know how many have gone and how many have stayed there? Why is it that we are losing scientists from Jodrell Bank, that the Blue Streak rocket team broke up and some went to America, and that of our scientists who take research scholarships in America few return?

Mr. Freeth

The hon. Member will appreciate that as long as the American machine requires more scientists than it produces and as long as America is a much richer country than our own, so long will American universities and industry be able to offer very much larger salaries than either the universities or industries in this country. We have debated before the question of how to find out how many scientists emigrate annually. It is very difficult for reasons which I have already explained to the House.

Mr. Mason

What inducement is the Civil Service Commission offering to those who have taken scholarships in the United States and Canada to induce them to come back?

Mr. Freeth

We are offering them research grants for work in this country and also drawing attention to N.A.T.O. fellowships.

Mr. Mitchison

Is not the root of the matter that research facilities are better in America than they are here? Is it not time that we spent rather more on them in the better interests of the nation in the long run?

Mr. Freeth

I would not accept the first generalisation in toto.