HC Deb 08 December 1965 vol 722 cc412-3
30. Mr. R. Carr

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement of his intentions regarding the future scale and objectives of aviation research.

40. Sir J. Eden

asked the Minister of Aviation how many military aerospace research projects being undertaken at Government research establishments have either been cancelled or deferred because of the decision to switch to civil projects.

41 and 42. Sir E. Errington

asked the Minister of Aviation (1) what instructions he has given for research work at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, to be cancelled or slowed down; what projects are affected thereby; and what arrangements will be made for skilled personnel to find other work; (2) what instructions he has given for research work at the National Gas Turbine Establishment, Pyestock, to be cancelled or slowed down; what projects are affected thereby; and what arrangements will be made for skilled personnel to find other work.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

Long-term decisions on the future scale and objective of aeronautical research and the size of the research establishments must await completion of the defence review and decisions on the recommendation of the Plowden Committee. Short-term adjustments in the programme have been made to take account of changes in the military aircraft programme. Complements have been frozen at their present levels, but no redundancies have been declared. There has been no diversion from military work, which would otherwise be desirable, because of the needs of civil projects.

Mr. Carr

Can the right hon. Gentleman therefore deny the reports that major changes in policy have already been made, because, as he will know, those reports are affecting the morale of staff?

Mr. Jenkins

Yes, I can deny them, but we must of course await what the Plowden Committee says on this as on other matters.

Sir J. Eden

Why have contracts been frozen at their present level? Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that aerospace research is of great importance to the economy of the country and that he must not take decisions which in any way interrupt the momentum of that work?

Mr. Jenkins

Complements have been frozen at their present level because, as the House knows, we found it necessary to make certain cut-backs in the industrial aircraft programme, cut-backs which were overwhelmingly justified, and it would have been quite inapposite and I would have been heavily criticised if, having made those cut-backs leading to some reductions in the industry, I had allowed the numbers employed in Government research establishments to go up substantially.

Sir E. Errington

Will the right hon. Gentleman take care to see that information is given at an early stage if it is proposed to unfreeze the complements?

Mr. Jenkins

Yes, Sir. I will willingly give such an undertaking.