§ Mr. Spencerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in establishing a board to advise on technological issues in Northern Ireland.
§ Dr. BoysonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently appointed Dr. Daniel V. McCaughan to be the first chairman of the newly established Technology Board for Northern Ireland. Appointment of members will proceed during the summer with the intention of holding an introductory meeting of the board in September. Dr. McCaughan is the technical director of Marconi Electronic Devices Ltd. He is a native of Northern Ireland and has excellent experience of high technology industry both in the United Kingdom and United States of America. He has also had previous experience of service on a number of Government advisory bodies.
The Technology Board will report to the Secretary of State on an annual basis and will advise Government Departments in Northern Ireland on the application of science and technology to economic needs and particularly on the contribution technology can make to the growth and development of the manufacturing and service sectors of industry. It will also act as a co-ordinating body on technological issues involving more than one Government Department and will bring together and represent a Northern Ireland view at national level.