HC Deb 13 April 1972 vol 834 cc1411-2
7. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many research establishments under the Medical Research Council she has now visited officially.

Mrs. Thatcher

Four, Sir.

Mr. Dalyell

Since it is becoming a matter of some embarrassment for hon. Members on both sides of the House to have to say to constituents who work for the M.R.C., "We have had no debate on this", and as the House of Lords has had a two-day debate on the Rothschild Report, cannot the Government give time for discussing this matter before decisions are made?

Mrs. Thatcher

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I am not responsible for arranging the business of the House. I agree that such a debate in this House would be very interesting. Perhaps the Opposition would care to use one of their Supply days for it.

Mr. Moyle

Is the right hon. Lady aware that the Rothschild Report is a Government paper and that therefore the Government should provide time for a debate on this matter? The right hon. Lady will no doubt have found that the research establishments she has visited are doing excellent work. Does she not agree that in visiting four establishments she has done much better than Lord Rothschild did before he submitted his Green Paper to the other place?

Mrs. Thatcher

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman forgets that Lord Rothschild was chairman of one of the research committees and knows a very great deal about it. I am amazed that he should presume to attack such a distinguished researcher.