§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will commission a comparative cost benefit analysis of the work of the industrial research associations, the research establishments for which he has full responsibility, and the other advisory services to industry provided by his Department.
§ Mr. RidleyI am reviewing policies in these fields. But a formal cost benefit analysis in the terms of the question would not be feasible, because the range of activities is too diverse. We do, of course, use the techniques of cost benefit analysis as a management tool when considering particular programmes within these fields.