§ Q3. Mr. Carterasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the various Departmental responsibilities in the fields of Government-sponsored research and development; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterAs announced in the White Paper on the Reorganisation of Central Government, each Department is now carrying out a review of its functions, including this field.
§ Mr. CarterThat hardly seemed like a reply to my Question. When the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry makes a statement in the near future on the subject of research and development in industry, will he resore the quite savage cuts made in the White Paper referred to by the Prime Minister?
§ The Prime MinisterI have no knowledge of my right hon. Friend saying that he expected to make a statement on this subject in the near future. However, there has, of course, been a transferrence of certain establishments from the Department of Trade and Industry to the Department for the Environment because I was certain that the responsibility should lie there.