HC Deb 30 November 1967 vol 755 cc630-1
29. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the names and cost of all projects under the auspices of the Science Research Council at Woomera in Australia.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

Launching of the Science Research Council's Skylark sounding rockets is carried out at Woomera as part of the jointly financed Anglo-Australian programme, at a cost to the United Kingdom in Australia of £175,000 in 1966–7.

The cost in this country of the rockets, including research and development, was £531,000 in 1966–67.

Mr. Dalyell

In the Government's judgment, what is the value of what goes on at Woomera to British industry and academic research?

Mrs. Williams

It is the view of the Science Research Council's space and research sub-committee, which is responsible for experiments under this programme, that this work is extremely valuable. It should be added that a number of comments in international scientific papers have borne out the view that this is not a part of the Government's research programme to which my hon. Friend should pay too careful attention.

Mr. Marten

Will the Minister give an assurance that the information obtained from this desirable work will be fed to industry so that it may be used for useful purposes as quickly as possible?

Mrs. Williams

Yes, Sir. At present most of the results of these experiments are carried in reports in various scientific and professional journals, but it may be the case that more could be done to draw the attention of industry to these experiments.