HC Deb 19 November 1963 vol 684 cc778-9
5. Mr. Dempsey

asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury what steps are being taken to improve industrial design techniques; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Action is being taken on all the 14 main recommendations of the Committee on Engineering Design appointed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, whose Report was published in July, 1963.

Mr. Dempsey

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, even now, there is a tremendous infiltration of foreign machines, principally from Germany and America, in the factories of north Lanarkshire and other parts of the west of Scotland? Does not he realise that we have the necessary skill and ingenuityin this country but we do not have the industrial designers? Is it not shameful that two out of every three scientists and technological graduates in Scotland are leaving the country to find work, when they could be usefully employing their skills in designing machines to meet the needs of our manufacturers?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I would not go so far as the hon. Gentleman in some of the things he says. The fact that action is being taken on all these recommendations does indicate the importance which the Government attach to the subject as a whole.

Mr. Bence

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in going into this matter, try to impress upon all industrialists concerned that increasing standardisation of many of the sub-units which go into consumer durables would help considerably in improving industrial design?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Up to a point, there is a good deal in what the hon. Gentleman says, and I take note of it.