§ 26. Mr. E. Fletcherasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now state what steps are being taken for the establishment of a national centre for nuclear physics when the Atomic Energy Authority and the universities co-operate in research in nuclear physics.
§ Mr. PowellYes. After consultation between the University Grants Committee, the Atomic Energy Authority, and the Departments concerned, the Government have now decided to set up a National Institute for Research in Nuclear Science.
The main object of the Institute will be to provide, for common use by universities and others, facilities and equipment which are beyond the scope of individual universities and institutions carrying out research in the nuclear field. It will not replace the research now being done in individual universities with assistance from Government funds; nor will it affect the Government's participation in the international scheme for common facilities
202W
Particulars of the Three Advisers, and of the reserve member, are as follows: Age Qualifications Sir Alexander Little, K.C.B. (Chairman) 61 Director-General, General Post Office, 1949–55. Sir Frederick Leggett, Kt., K.B.E., C.B. 72 Chief Industrial Commissioner, 1940–42; Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Labour, 1942–45. Sir William Bowen, Kt., C.B.E. 80 Formerly General Secretary, Union of Post Office Workers; M.P. for Crewe, 1929–31; Chairman, Ruskin College, Oxford; Chairman, London County Council, 1949–52. Sir Maurice Holmes, G.B.E., K.C.B. (Reserve member). 71 Permanent Secretary, Board of Education, 1937–45. in Geneva. It will, in the Government's view, satisfactorily fill a gap which would otherwise exist in this country's power to keep in the forefront of nuclear progress.
The Government propose that the Institute should be financed in the main by grants through the Atomic Energy Authority from the Lord President's Atomic Energy Vote, and provision will be taken in Estimates accordingly. The universities' expenditure will be confined to the payment of the salaries and expenses of their own academic staff utilising the research facilities provided by the Institute.
The Institute will be managed by a governing board appointed jointly by the Lord President of the Council and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and consisting of representatives of the universities, the Atomic Energy Authority, the University Grants Committee, the Royal Society and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, with an independent chairman.
Lord Bridges has accepted appointment as chairman; the other members of the governing board will be announced in due course.