HC Deb 03 July 1995 vol 263 cc16-7
33. Mr. Evennett

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to encourage further involvement from broadcasters and the media in Science Week 1996. [30153]

Mr. David Hunt

I was delighted with the outstanding coverage of Science, Engineering and Technology Week 1995 and I am determined that the 1996 week should be even bigger and better.

Mr. Evennett

I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply. Does he agree that science is vital to our national interest and is an exciting subject in itself? Will he continue to press the media, particularly the BBC, to put out more programmes on science and technology and to make them more exciting, fun and interesting for the general public?

Mr. Hunt

Yes. I recently had a meeting with the BBC at which I met John Birt and Alan Yentob, both of whom were delighted with the success of the Science, Engineering and Technology Week 1995. They have already promised their full support for the 1996 week. I take the opportunity to congratulate "Tomorrow's World" on its 30th anniversary last month. It does a great deal to promote public understanding of science, engineering and technology.

Mr. Skinner

I wonder how the right hon. Gentleman is at doing arithmetic. If somebody in the ballot tomorrow gets 190 votes and another gets 70, can he tell us whether the one who gets 190 votes will stand his ground and keep his job?

Mr. Hunt

If I were to answer that mathematical hypothetical question, I would say quite clearly to the hon. Gentleman that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will have a decisive victory tomorrow. As for the other implication behind the hon. Gentleman's question, progress in arithmetic under this Government has improved considerably, and I know that, as a result of the past 10 years, even the hon. Gentleman can do joined-up handwriting.

Sir Giles Shaw

Will my right hon. Friend congratulate those involved in the Science, Engineering and Technology Week? Looking forward to next year, will he assure the House that contributions to that event by local firms are as essential as those made by the media? What steps is he taking to develop further links with chambers of commerce so that they can plug in and make SET Week even more successful than it has been before?

Mr. Hunt

I agree with my hon. Friend. If we are to make a great success of Science, Engineering and Technology Week 1996, we must involve small and medium-sized enterprises. In view of my hon. Friend's intervention, I shall consider how best to do that. I shall seek out chambers of commerce, training and enterprise councils and, through business links, all firms, so that they can play a positive part in SET 1996.