§ Mr. Albuasked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, whether, in view of the fact that the Shipbuilding Research Association has built up a reserve fund equal to between two or three years' running expenditure, he will reduce the grant made to it and use the money to further research into shipbuilding methods which is not now undertaken by the Association.
103W
§ Sir D. EcclesReserves amounting to between two and three years' revenue expenditure are not excessive for a research association serving an industry such as shipbuilding which is subject to exceptional economic fluctuations, especially when heavy demands might be made for capital expenditure and for new developments such as novel forms of propulsion; and my noble Friend does not consider that there are any grounds on this account for reducing the grant. The need for research into production methods in shipbuilding is under active consideration by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and some discussion has already taken place with the Research Association.