§ 6. Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he accepts the forecast of the Committee on Scientific Manpower contained in Command Paper No. 2146 that the supply of scientists will be equal to the demand for them by 1970, in view of the fact that this year many science departments at universities and colleges of advanced technology are operating well below capacity due to a shortage of applicants with the necessary entrance qualifications; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. M. StewartA new scientific manpower survey is now being undertaken. Any review of the conclusions in the Report to which the hon. Member refer should await the outcome of this new survey.
§ Mr. JenkinI thank the Minister for his reply, but is it not already apparent that the supply of scientists and technologists will be very short of requirements? Will he not, prior to the Report to which he has referred, use all the resources of his Department to publicise the vacancies that exist, and look like continuing to exist, at the institutions of higher education?
§ Mr. StewartI am well aware that there is a problem of this kind and that we must take what steps we can to deal with it, but regular surveys are necessary to establish the basic facts about the deployment of our scientific and technological manpower. The results of the inquiry to which I have referred will be available probably by about the middle of this year and can then be interpreted by the new Committee on Manpower Resources for Science and Technology.