§ Captain Kerbyasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared to offer the services of those grant-aided bodies for which he is responsible to the Governments of British overseas territories which may be in need of technical aid; and what co-operation exists between the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the National Research Development Corporation, the British Productivity Council, and similar institutions, and British overseas governments, organised industries, and organised labour.
§ Sir D. EcclesThe National Research Development Corporation, a body financed by loans from the Board of Trade, has the statutory function of developing and exploiting inventions in the interests of this country. In fulfilling its function it co-operates with bodies having similar objectives in Commonwealth countries, and is ready at all times, if requested, to give such bodies the benefit of its experience.
The British Productivity Council was set up to encourage productivity within the United Kingdom. It would be outside its province to undertake work in British countries overseas, but the Council is always willing to share its experience with other Commonwealth countries.
I understand that the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, for which my noble Friend the Lord President of the Council is responsible, maintains close co-operation with Commonwealth countries mainly through the agency of the British Commonwealth Scientific Offices, of which the United Kingdom is a member, as well as through the individual scientific liaison officers which several Commonwealth countries maintain in the United Kingdom. There is also 147W direct collaboration between corresponding Research Establishments of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and Commonwealth Governments. The resources of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are available to Colonial Territories and in addition there are Colonial research liaison officers at a number of Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Establishments to ascertain Colonial problems and to consider the possibility of application of the results of United Kingdom research. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is also represented on the Colonial Research Council.
The British Standards Institution has wide contacts with Commonwealth and other countries on standardisation questions.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the President of the Board of Trade what co-operation exists between grant-aided bodies such as the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the National Research Development Corporation and the British Productivity Council and the Colonial Development Corporation.
§ Sir D. EcclesThe Colonial Development Corporation is able to draw on the advice and experience of the three other bodies referred to as and when required without the need for formal liaison machinery.