§ 15. Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking to ensure that small firms are assisted and encouraged in introducing up-to-date managerial and administrative techniques.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Technology (Mr. Edmund Dell)I have nothing to add yet to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member on 27th June, 1966.
§ Mr. WalkerWill my hon. Friend look again at the usefulness of building up a consultancy agency to provide information in management techniques for the smaller firms which cannot afford to engage the very expensive firms operating in this field? Would he not agree that a considerable benefit would stem from this to the national interest?
§ Mr. DellWe are giving consideration to that point and will be reporting to the House later. We are already doing something in this field through regional offices and industrial liaison centres.
§ Mr. David PriceWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that he will have full support from this side in his activities in this direction, and will he recall that this was in the Conservative election manifesto at the last election?