§ Mr. Bryanasked the Postmaster-General if he will list the Government research establishments for which his Department is responsible, showing the location, date of foundation, numbers of qualified engineers and scientists and other staff, respectively, employed on 1st January, 1960, 1965 and 1969 and the cost of each establishment to public funds in the years 1959–60, 1964–65. and the estimate for 1968–69.
§ Mr. StonehouseThe main research establishment of the Post Office is located at Dollis Hill, N.W. London, founded in 1920, with small outstations at Castleton, near Cardiff, and Backwell, near Bristol. A site near St. Albans, Herts, is also used occasionally for field trials.
The total staff and the qualified engineering and scientific staff (q.s.e.) employed, and the approximate running costs, are as follows:
1960–1,385 staff (482 q.s.e.); £3.3 million per annum. 1965–1,412 staff (547 q.s.e.); £3.9 million per annum. 1969–1,348* staff (527 q.s.e.); £4.4 million per annum. * The decrease between 1965 and 1969 is due to the transfer of some staff to other Government Departments. There will be a phased move of Dollis Hill and other outstations to Martlesham, near Ipswich, commencing at the end of 1972. This site became available in 1965 and some 50 staff are now engaged there in work on long-distance waveguides and microwave propagation studies.