HC Deb 24 March 1971 vol 814 c509
1. Mr. Carter

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply if he will make a statement on future policy as it affects his departmental responsibilities in the field of research and development.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aviation Supply (Mr. David Price)

The Government's policy on research and development in the aerospace field continues to be directed to the effective fulfilment of military and civil needs. As announced in the White Paper on the Reorganisation of Central Government, the departmental organisation is currently being reviewed.

Mr. Carter

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply, but is he aware that as a result of the Government's chaotic policies regarding aviation, many thousands of workers in the Government's aviation research and development institutions are now in peril of losing their jobs? Will he take urgent steps to reassure these people and tell them that they are not to be thrown on the scrap-heap like the rest of the ¾ million workers already there as a result of Government policies?

Mr. Price

The hon. Gentleman is making a lot of assumptions which are in no way warranted. I remind him that in the current financial year, 1970–71, on our Department's account about £258 million will have been spent on research and development in this field.

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