§ Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister at Labour what further steps he is contemplating taking to ascertain the probable future demands of Government Departments, industry research and teaching, upon the scientific and technological manpower of the country.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsYes. At my right hon. Friend's request Lord Hankey has agreed that the Technical Personnel Committee which under his chairmanship performed valuable services during the war in assessing the demand and supply in science and technology should institute a number of detailed inquiries of the kind referred to. These inquiries are being conducted by specially appointed panels representative of all the interests concerned, and the results will be published in due course. It might be added that at the request of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy recently appointed by my right hon. Friend the Lord President under the Chairmanship of Sir Henry Tizard, a survey is also about to he made of the existing manpower in the country in the fields of science and professional engineering. This survey will be carried cut by the Technical and Scientific Branch of our Department with the assistance of the appropriate scientific bodies and professional institutions.