HC Deb 27 July 1937 vol 326 c2887W
Sir G. Fox

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many Departments enjoying State subsidies for the research work they carry on are thereby empowered to enter into commercial transactions which compete directly with private enterprise; and whether he will state their names and their types of activity?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

It is not the practice of Government Departments to undertake work of scientific research or of scientific testing which can be equally well undertaken by private enterprise or left wholly to private enterprise. In the ordinary course, therefore, no question of competition with private enterprise arises.