§ Q3. Mr. Lubbockasked the Prime Minister on how many occasions the Central Advisory Council for Science and 603 Technology has met since the announcement of its establishment on 17th November 1966; what matters the Committee has considered; and when a report on the work of the Committee will be published.
§ The Prime MinisterSince I announced the membership and terms of reference of the Central Advisory Council for Science and Technology on 17th January, 1967, the Council has met 13 times. A great deal of the advice given by the Council to the Government is confidential; but reports on its work, where appropriate, will be published from time to time.
§ Mr. LubbockWill the right hon. Gentleman say why, when the Advisory Council which reports to the Secretary of State for Education and Science publishes reports which are extremely informative and which are available to the House and the public generally, this Council, which advises the Minister of Technology, does not divulge one iota of its activities to the public?
§ The Prime MinisterThis Council is the highest committee of all in this sphere, covering both science and technology. It must, to do its job properly, have highly secret information. However, it intends to publish what can be published and I understand it has already approved a draft outline of its work for 1967–68. I hope, therefore, that a report will be available for publication before long; but it will not cover all of its work, for the reasons I have stated.