§ 39. Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of Technology how many qualified engineers, technologists and scientists are employed in his departments; and what percentage each of these represents of total staff.
§ Mr. BennThe Ministry of Technology employs a total of approximately 4,200 qualified scientists, engineers and technologists. This represents 12 per cent. of the total civilian staff directly employed. I regret that separate figures of each category are not available.
§ Mr. RankinWould my right hon. Friend agree that the work of his Department—its coverage and so on—has greatly expanded during the last two or three years, and can he assure us that the supply of staff along the lines that I have indicated in the Question has expanded nearly correspondingly?
§ Mr. BennThere has been an expansion of the work of my Department, but my hon. Friend should not suppose that it is our intention greatly to increase the number of qualified scientists and engineers that we employ. There has been a rundown in the Atomic Energy Authority, there is a reduction at Farn-borough and Malvern, and we are trying to hold the civil establishments stable. The object is in part to get more research done in industry.