§ 52. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Technology whether he will make a statement on further action taken or pro- 786 posed to be taken to increase the range of research and development work being undertaken by private industry and by Government Departments in the Northern Region.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Technology (Dr. Jeremy Bray)The Department has had a number of discussions with authorities in the Northern Region on proposals for technological development in the region, and these are continuing.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopWhen will my hon. Friend be able to say something rather more specific, as there is great anxiety over the great backlog in this field in the Northern Region?
§ Dr. BrayI much appreciate my hon. Friend's enthusiasm and anxiety to see progress here. I share his desire, as does my right hon. Friend. We are wasting no time.
§ Dame Irene WardIs the hon. Gentleman aware that on the North-East Coast we think that there is too much talk and too little action? With great respect to the hon. Gentleman, I would feel much happier if the right hon. Gentleman could tell us how he is getting on in the Cabinet, who are obviously the niggers in the woodpile.
§ Dr. BrayThe hon. Lady is quite misinformed about the extent of the action that there has been. There has been an N.R.D.C. project of £¾ million with Welwyn Electric, a £1 million project for the development of transducers by an instrument firm, and projects for a superconducting motor at I.R.D.
§ Mr. David PriceDoes not the hon. Gentleman agree that part of the answer to this question is for the two major universities in the North-East, particularly in their engineering departments, to get as close contact as possible with the developing industries and the highly technological industries which are sited in the North-East?
§ Dr. BrayYes. The hon. Gentleman makes a very important point and one which we are pursuing with both universities at present.