§ 22. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Technology how much work in medical engineering is being carried out by the research stations and research associations; how many people are involved in this work; and what is the approximate estimated cost in the current financial year.
§ Mr. MarshSix small projects are in hand in the Ministry's research stations. The total cost is £15,000 and the effort involved is equivalent to three staff full-time. In the research associations the figures are £6,000 and one member of staff full-time.
§ Mr. OsbornIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the importance of this matter? No doubt he has read the proceedings of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee in which the problems of cross-infection, air conditioning in operating theatres and biogenetics were discussed. Is this work being encouraged by the Department to bring engineers to the assistance of doctors?
§ Mr. MarshTo take one specific point which the hon. Member has raised, the Heating and Ventilating Research Association is at present studying air conditioning in operating theatres. To give other examples, the National Engineering Laboratory is doing a study of abrasive wear test procedures suitable for dentifrice materials, Warren Spring Laboratory is carrying out a study on the design and siting of instruments and equipment in dental surgeries, and so on. A great deal of work is being done in exactly the direction which the hon. Member suggests.
§ Mr. MaxwellIs my hon. Friend providing sufficient support for medical electronics and biological engineering, a field that is likely to yield considerable benefits to mankind and in which Great Britain today is leading, and does he not consider that the sums which he has mentioned are paltry in relation to the problem? Will he make a statement?
§ Mr. MarshI would need notice of the specific point, but in general the National Research Development Corporation is always prepared to look at problems of this kind.