§ 24. Mr. C. Johnsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what resources are available to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Nature Conservancy and other bodies responsible to the Minister for Science for fulfilling their obligations as advisers in scientific matters to the Department for Technical Co-operation.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethThe Department of Technical Co-operation obtains advice on scientific matters from a wide range of experts, including scientists from the organisations for which my noble Friend is responsible. One of the important ways in which these bodies provide this advice is by making their staff available for membership of the various advisory committees of the Department.
§ Mr. JohnsonAs this new field of activity will obviously put additional burdens both in respect of staff and resources on the organisations to which the Parliamentary Secretary referred, does he not think that it would be necessary to supplement them in some way in order that they may not limit or sacrifice the other normal activities?
§ Mr. FreethThese matters are, of course, under consideration.