§ 7. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science if he will state the scope and terms of reference of the British Ship Research Association; how its work is co-ordinated with the work of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; and when a detailed report on the activities of these two bodies will be publicly available.
§ Mr. HoggThe Ship Research Association is an autonomous co-operative body, financially assisted by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, formed to promote research and scientific work relating to shipbuilding, marine engineering and the operation of ships. The work of the Association and related work in the Department is co-ordinated through advisory committees and joint projects. A report of the work of the Ship Division, National Physical Laboratory, is published annually in the Report of that Laboratory.
Some account of the work of the Association will appear in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research publication Research for Industry, 1963. The Association itself contributes regularly to the technical press.
§ Mr. HughesI thank the right hon. and learned Gentleman for that rather elaborate reply, but does he realise that the two bodies mentioned in my Question seem to be paying more attention to the southern seas—for instance, the Indian Ocean—rather than to the northern seas, where most British shipping Operates and most British fishing is done? Will he take steps to see that more attention is paid to the northern seas, particularly around Britain, with a view to helping our shipping and fishing?
§ Mr. HoggI apologise for the length of my Answer, but it was occasioned by the length of the hon. and learned Gentleman's Question. As regards his supplementary question, I certainly am anxious that attention should be paid to the matters he mentions, but the Ship Research Association is, of course, concerned with ships rather than waters.