HC Deb 24 April 1967 vol 745 c1123
6. Mr. Chichester-Clark

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make a statement on the future of Government-sponsored research and development in the building and construction industry.

The Minister of Public Building and Works (Mr. Reg Prentice)

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Bethnal Green (Mr. Hilton) on 20th April. I am considering what further arrangements are desirable to assist me in discharging my responsibilities for research and development and I will make a statement as soon as possible—[Vol. 745, c. 153.]

Mr. Chichester-Clark

Now that the Minister has acquired the B.R.S. can we be certain that his influence in the Government is strong enough to see that it will not ultimately be swallowed by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and that the industry's confidence in it will not be whittled away and finally destroyed as happened in the lamentable case in the N.B.A?

Mr. Prentice

I think the hon. Member is misinformed about the N.B.A. The B.R.S. should be responsible in a Ministerial sense to me. I have to work out arrangements consequent on that and also arrangements to promote co-ordination.