§ Q8. Mr. Albuasked the Prime Minister if he will arrange for the chief scientist or chief engineer in civil Departments to be put on the same level as the chief scientist in the Ministry of Defence in the machinery for tendering advice to Ministers.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The levels of these posts reflect the relationship between their responsibilities and those of the Permanent Secretaries at the head of the Departments.
§ Mr. AlbuDoes not the Prime Minister think that the time has now come when, in matters involving scientific and technological considerations, no policy decision should be taken by Ministers without the direct consideration and advice of the chief scientists and engineers, in exactly the same way as is to be arranged by the Ministry of Defence?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that the rôle of the chief scientists in the civil Departments is well understood, and I do not think that there is any difficulty in operating it.