HC Deb 22 February 1968 vol 759 c626
3. Mr. Turton

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what research at York University into changes in taxation provisions in the event of Great Britain joining the Common Market is being subsidised by his Department; and what is the total amount of the cost to be borne on public funds.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Mr. Edmund Dell)

The research to which reference is made is not supported by my right hon. Friend's Department, but by the Social Science Research Council.

Turton

Surely this work should have been done by, the officers of the Department and the Treasury before the application was made. Is not this an illustration of the muddle and lack of preparation which preceded the event?

Mr. Dell

On the contrary, naturally work of this sort is done within the Government, but in this case an application was made by York University to the Social Science Research Council, and after discussion with interested Departments a grant was made.