§ 11. Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals and how many establishments, under the control of the Ministry of Defence, are engaged in production technology and related research.
§ Mr. PattieMany defence establishments, including the R and D establishments, the Royal dockyards and the Royal ordnance factories, undertake some work which might be included within the general spectrum of production technology. However, it would be difficult to identify with any precision the number of staff working directly on production technology from within the wide range of disciplines which might conceivably be applicable.
§ Mr. AtkinsDoes my hon. Friend agree that the statistics show that Britain is spending only one-tenth of what is being spent in the United States, compared with 10 years ago when we were spending one-fifth of that amount? Since we have dropped from second to fourth in the league table, and since the programmes adopted by General Dynamics and Lockheed in the United States are expanding all the time, is there not an urgent need to discuss this matter with the Department of Industry, with a view to something better being done?
§ Mr. PattieYes, I agree. My hon. Friend will be reassured to know that discussions have taken place recently between the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Industry and British Aerospace.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownIs the Minister aware that the Marconi radar system factory at Bill Quay is largely under the control of the Ministry of Defence, in that it is dependent upon work on the Sea Wolf project? Will he give the workers at Bill Quay, including many of my constituents, an assurance that the Department will not go Dutch and thereby sacrifice hundreds of jobs on Tyneside?
§ Mr. PattieMy hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy has heard what the hon. Gentleman said.