§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, with the permission of the House I should like to make a statement about the establishment of the Overseas Research Council. Her Majesty's Government have now given effect to the announcement made at the Commonwealth Trade and Economic Conference in Montreal last year that an Overseas Research Council is to be established. I am glad to say that Dr. R. S. Aitken, Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham University, has accepted the chairmanship. I am circulating the names of the members, together with the terms of reference, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
As previously explained, the United Kingdom Research Councils—Department of Scientific and Industrial Ressearch, Medical Research Council and Agricultural Research Council—are willing to provide advice and assistance on research matters falling within their respective fields to any Commonwealth country desiring such assistance wherever this can be done within the funds available. The Overseas Research Council will provide for the co-ordination of this assistance, and for the formulation of general United Kingdom policy in this field. The Council will provide a central point to which Commonwealth Governments and research institutions can refer for advice and information, and will advise generally on United Kingdom co-operation in scientific research overseas.
There are no geographical restrictions in the Council's terms of reference. Matters concerning scientific development in Colonial territories, in Commonwealth countries, and in countries outside the Commonwealth, can equally be referred to it. Moreover, in promoting such development, the Council can look to possible collaboration between this country and other Commonwealth countries, countries outside the Commonwealth, such as the United States of America, and international agencies, such as those of the United Nations and the charitable foundations.
§ [Following are the details referred to:]
§ Membership of Overseas Research Council
- Dr. R. S. Aitken (Chairman).
- Sir Jock Campbell.
- Sir Charles Dodds, M.V.O., F.R.S.
- Sir Harold Himsworth. K.C.B., F.R.S.
- Sir Joseph Hutchinson, C.M.G., F.R.S.
- Dr. R. Lewthwaite, C.M.G.. O.B.E.
- Professor J. McMichael, F.R.S.
- Sir Harry Melville, K.C.B., F.R.S.
- Mr. G. D. W. Nye, C.M.G., O.B.E.
- Sir Arnold Plant.
- Sir William Slater, K.B.E., F.R.S.
- Dr. H. G. Thornton, F.R.S.
- Sir Solly Zuckerman, C.B., F.R.S.
§ Terms of Reference
§ "To advise the Privy Council Committee on Overseas Research:—
- (1) on the formulation of United Kingdom policy in respect (a) of scientific research undertaken in or for overseas territories both within and outside the Commonwealth, (b) of methods of making the results of research available in these territories, and (c) of assistance to the scientific services of those territories;
- (2) on the co-ordination of the activities of United Kingdom Government organisations in the development of science in the civil sphere in overseas territories; and
- (3) on co-operation within the Commonwealth, with other countries and with international agencies in promoting such development."
§ An Order in Council was made yesterday, establishing the Committee of the Privy Council, referred to in the terms of reference. The Committee consists of the Lord President of the Council, and the Secretaries of State for Commonwealth Relations, the Colonies and Foreign Affairs.
§ LORD SILKINMy Lords, we are grateful to the noble Viscount for that statement. It is most encouraging, and I should like to congratulate the noble Viscount on having created a very fine organisation. I have seen the names of the members and I think he is to be congratulated on having got together so distinguished a group of people. I would ask him just one question: Does he visualise that this will take up a great deal of the time of the members? If so, which of them, if any, will be full-time? And will they be paid? Also, will their headquarters be in London? I presume they will. And does he contemplate that they will have to do a good deal of travelling in the Commonwealth countries and the Colonies and abroad?
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, it is a little difficult to answer all those questions. I should like to thank the noble Lord for his welcome to this project. The first question was: will it involve a good deal of time? I should think that for some time to come it probably will, at any rate while the project is in its younger days, because there is a good deal to discuss. I would hope that as the matter developed it would take less time than it will to begin with. I believe that payments may be made to certain of the officers, but I should not like to answer that question in detail without notice. I have some reason to think there may be some payments made. There will be a certain amount of travelling, both directly, in connection with the business of the Council, but more especially because these people have been very largely selected for their knowledge of certain overseas territories and their connection with science in them; and they will in the ordinary course of events be people who would very largely—some of them—be travelling to the United States and overseas to the Commonwealth, and I think a good deal of their work would be in connection with this Council.
LORD REAMy Lords, if these eminent gentlemen are not rewarded, or even if they are, I think the House would like it to be known how much it appreciates their gesture in offering their services in this way.