HC Deb 05 July 1956 vol 555 c140W
Mr. Blenkinsop

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will make a statement on the economies proposed to be effected on the approved Estimate for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for 1956–57.

Mr. Bevins

In the statement circulated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the OFFICIAL REPORT (26th June, 1956, c. 280) the reduction to be made in the published Estimate for the D.S.I.R. is given as £150,000. This reduction in the net Estimate is to be attained by the following means:

  1. (1) Staff—reduction of £33,000, resulting from a slowing up in the rate of recruitment.
  2. (2) Grants for industrial research—reduction of £20,000.
  3. (3) Capital and general expenses of Departmental establishments—reduction of £49,000, mainly to be found by economies in purchases of equipment and consumable stores.
  4. (4) Extra-Departmental research—reduction of £20,000, to be achieved by delaying commencement of a new borehole for the Geological Survey.
  5. (5) Receipts—increase of £70,000 (thus reducing the net Estimate) resulting from increases in test fees and other similar charges
The economies above total £192,000; this total must be offset by increased expenditure of £42,000 on scientific grants (£37,000 for nuclear physics and £5,000 for other grants) which give the announced total of £150,000.