§ Mr. Robert Howarthasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about Government assistance to the Centre for Interfirm Comparison.
§ Mr. CroslandThe Prime Minister announced at the National Productivity Conference on 14th June that the Government had decided, subject to the approval of Parliament, to provide some direct financial assistance to the Centre for Interfirm Comparison. It is proposed to make annual grants up to a total of £210,800 during the five years beginning the 1st October, 1967. The grant in 1967–68 will be a maximum of £27,200. I shall be presenting a Supplementary Estimate in due course, but in the meantime any necessary advances will be made from the Civil Contingencies Fund.