HC Deb 21 March 1968 vol 761 cc586-7
32. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to encourage research on the problem of climatic exposure, in view of recent tragedies at sea and elsewhere.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

A considerable amount of research in this field is already being undertaken by the Medical Research Council and other bodies. Those concerned are very conscious of the importance of this work. I do not think that further encouragement is necessary.

Mr. Mills

In view of the disturbing lack of knowledge on this subject and the methods which are frequently wrong when there is trouble, will the hon. Lady look again at this and see that money is spent on this very important subject if she really is interested in saving life at sea and on Dartmoor and other places?

Mrs. Williams

The hon. Gentleman is right to be so concerned. But the Environmental Physiology Research Unit is doing work on the reaction of human physiology to extreme climatic conditions and the British Standards Institution and the Royal Naval Personnel Research Committee are both working on the question of protective clothing. But all the scientific research in the world is beside the point if advantage is not taken fully of the discoveries made.