HC Deb 28 March 1994 vol 240 cc630-1
31. Mr. Dickens

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures are being adopted to promote science and technology; and if he will make a statement.

35. Dr. Liam Fox

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what initiatives he is taking to improve public understanding of science in the year ahead.

Mr. Waldegrave

Following the resounding success of the first national science week, which ended yesterday, the Government are already in discussion with the British Association for the Advancement of Science about funding for a second week in 1995.

Mr. Dickens

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the initiative that produced national science, technology and engineering week, which was a great and unqualified successes. Does he agree that it was brain power that made ours one of the great industrial nations of the world and led to many inventions—radar, television and the jet engine, to mention but a few? Will he now build on the great success of his initiative by ensuring that he maintains a good budget for science, technology and engineering and makes this country once more a forerunner in the industrial world?

Mr. Waldegrave

I whole-heartedly agree with my hon. Friend. I believe that the week was a success: more than 1 million people took part in events up and down the country. My hon. Friend is right, however; we need to become better at applying the ideas that we invent, so that we can earn our living by them.

Dr. Fox

I am probably the last person from whom my right hon. Friend would expect to hear the question that I am about to put to him. Will he recognise the impressive contribution that the BBC has made to national science week? Was not it a pleasant surprise to get up in the morning and see on "Breakfast News" something positive, in terms of science, about Britain, instead of Mr. Witchell's usual niggling questioning? Would not it be nice if the BBC were to do this on a regular basis?

Mr. Waldegrave

I congratulate the BBC on its contribution to science week. It has by far the most impressive science unit of all broadcasting organisations in the world. Its commitment to broadcasting on science and engineering is perhaps one example of what happens when a large arts-based organisation is run by an engineer.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Why have we allowed flat screen television technology to disappear to Japan and other countries in the far east although it was invented in the United Kingdom? Why did not we, with all the commercial resources that are available to us, develop the technology? What has the right hon. Gentleman been doing about this?

Mr. Waldegrave

I sympathise with the hon. Gentleman's frustration. Flat screen television technology was indeed partly, although not wholly, invented here. The objectives of the Technology Foresight exercise and of all our reforms of the research councils are to bring industry and the science base closer together so that such things happen less often.

Mrs. Anne Campbell

Following the publication of the report "The Rising Tide", which is aimed at promoting opportunities for women in science, engineering and technology, can the Secretary of State tell us how he intends to implement the recommendations that it contains?

Mr. Waldegrave

It is a good report. Some of its recommendations go much wider than my Department, but I hope shortly to respond positively to some of them.