§ 2. Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what expenditure has been incurred by his Department in the past three years in analysing the causes of the brain drain and attempting to reverse it.
§ Mr. ShoreNone, Sir. The main support for the Jones Committee's work on this subject was provided by the Ministry of Technology and the Department of Education and Science.
§ Mr. OnslowAssuming that the Department of Economic Affairs is asked to give advice, will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the best advice that he can give is that people will stay here only 605 when the society is worth while in their view, and that before that happens there must be considerable fiscal and political changes?
§ Mr. ShoreI think that there are many factors, as the Jones Committee's Report suggested, which bear on the decision of individual men and women to leave this country. I would not place as much weight on the fiscal system as the hon. Gentleman does.
§ Mr. MaclennanIs my right hon. Friend aware of a particularly flagrant attempt by the American Westinghouse Corporation to induce senior British scientists to leave Dounreay, and is he aware that they will be susceptible to these approaches so long as the Atomic Energy Authority remains unclear about the future of its research work at that establishment?
§ Mr. ShoreYes, Sir, I have seen these reports. I have also seen the speech of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology, to whom I think the latter part of my hon. Friend's question ought to be directed.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinIn view of the criticisms made by the Prime Minister about British industry, following the Report of the Jones Committee, do the Government intend to ask the nationalised industries to give a lead in paying much higher salaries to qualified scientists and engineers?
§ Mr. ShoreThat is a different question, but clearly the whole of industry, both public and private, will have to consider very carefully the conclusions reached by the Jones Committee.