HC Deb 28 February 1967 vol 742 c253
24. Mr. Rankin

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he is proposing to take to bring to public notice the indirect benefits deriving from technology, particularly in regard to medicine and management.

Mr. Benn

Much of the information work of my Department is directed to this end. We are now co-operating in some current projects that relate technology to medicine and management.

Mr. Rankin

Can the data derived from the monitoring of astronauts in manned space flights be applied to the monitoring of hospital patients, especially those in critical conditions? Is this being done, and to what extent?

Mr. Benn

There is a certain amount of what is called spin-off from space research. For example, the development of the refrigerated suit which has been going on at Farnborough has some relevance to possible operating methods by surgeons in hospitals. A great deal of the work done by the research stations bears upon the question which my hon. Friend has put, and I shall send him any special details which he would like to have.