§ 37. Mr. John Hallasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Committee on Marine Technology was first established; how much it has cost to maintain during its existence; and what have been the results achieved to date.
§ Mr. CorfieldThe Committee on Marine Technology was established in April, 1968. Its costs amount only to an appropriate share of the salaries of the members and incidental expenses. It has no executive functions, but a number of useful studies have been completed or are in hand, some of which have already resulted in industrial project.
§ Mr. HallI do not quite follow my right hon. Friend's reply to my Question about costs. Does he think that the amount of money that has been spent on this Committee so far has resulted in value for money? Does he expect that the Committee will be able to make a useful contribution to marine technology which will justify the amount that will be spent on it in the future?
§ Mr. CorfieldThe approximate apportionment of the cost of the salaries to which I referred comes to £8,000. Many of the projects that have been studied and which have developed into industrial projects with, we hope, commercial potential, provide a good return. Nevertheless, these are matters which are being considered in relation to the whole field of Government research.
§ Mr. DalyellWhat has become of the Labour Government's White Paper on marine technology?
§ Mr. CorfieldI think that it is probably in the wastepaper basket.