HC Deb 22 November 1966 vol 736 cc1125-6
14. Mr. Moonman

asked the Minister of Technology when the statistics of the number of qualified British scientists and engineers who have emigrated to the United States of America since 1963 will be available.

Mr. Dell

Complete figures are not available for years since 1963 when certain statistical returns on emigration were discontinued. My right hon. Friend has been looking into whether any useful estimates can be made from other sources.

Mr. Moonman

I appreciate that Answer. Does my hon. Friend recognise that it is extremely difficult for companies to plan long and short term if these figures are not available? Can he say whether he maintains a register of the reasons given for emigration and, if not, will he consider doing so?

Mr. Dell

I appreciate that it is most important that we have these figures, and it is for this reason that we are making efforts to obtain at any rate good estimates of them. I will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion about a register.

Mr. Lubbock

Has the hon. Gentleman considered using the resources of the professional engineering institutions to obtain this information, since they have the addresses of all their members and would be able to supply him with the numbers of those who have gone abroad?

Mr. Dell

The resources of the professional engineering institutions are certainly one of the sources which we are trying to tap.

Mr. David Price

Would the hon. Gentleman recognise that on both sides of the House this problem is taken extremely seriously? Will he consider in conjunction with his right hon. Friend an early social survey into the reasons why the emigration rate of scientists and engineers is rising?

Mr. Dell

We certainly regard this as a matter of the utmost importance, and the Committee on Manpower Resources for Science and Technology has set up a working group on emigration under Dr. F. E. Jones, managing director of Mullard, which will take all these matters into consideration and make proposals.