§ Q5. Mr. Sandysasked the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for co-ordinating action to arrest the brain drain; and if he will make a statement on the Government's policy to deal with this problem.
§ Q6. Mr. Mawbyasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Education and Science, the Minister of Technology and the Minister of Labour in keeping services of young engineers and scientists and technologists in this country.
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology has a major responsibility in this matter but others of my right hon. Friends, particularly my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, are also concerned. I am satisfied that they work closely together and would refer hon. Members to the recent debate for an account of the Government's attitude.
§ Mr. SandysWill the Prime Minister consider the possibility of reducing the present punitive rates of taxation?
§ The Prime MinisterMany explanations were given in the House as to why scientists and engineers go abroad. My own view, based on talks with many of those in America a year or two ago, was that lack of prospects in many British firms and lack of opportunities for younger men have caused it. With regard to the rates of taxation, I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.
§ Mr. MawbyIs the Prime Minister aware that in developing parts of the country future employment prospects of local people very much depend on a high standard of technician? Will he consider a suggestion that graduates should pay back part of the public expenditure incurred on their behalf if they leave the country within a period after graduation?
§ The Prime MinisterI agree very much with the thought in the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question. The second part was raised in the debate, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science gave reasons why we felt that that would not be the right solution.
§ Mr. WhitakerIs not a more serious problem the loss to developing countries of skilled people, particularly doctors, coming to the developed countries?
§ The Prime MinisterThis is a problem. If one studies the recent figures of immigration into the United States since the easement of the immigration regulations, one realises that this has affected not only us but, even more, has affected the very large-scale movement of urgently needed technicians, including, of course, doctors, from developing countries to the United States.