§ 51. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Prime Minister if he will state the present policy of Her Majesty's Government in relation to the pooling of scientific knowledge in the interest of international peace and co-operation; and what steps he has taken since last December, and now proposes to take, to implement that policy.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have been asked to reply.
As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member on 31st October, Her Majesty's Government are in favour of pooling scientific resources and are at present discussing with other countries who are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation what more can be done to promote scientific co-operation in the interests of peace. Such co-operation is, by its nature, a continuing day-to-day process.
Many international organisations are already in existence to promote scientific co-operation between professional and learned societies. Besides the part which Her Majesty's Government play in the scientific programme of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the most notable 141W recent step towards scientific co-operation in the governmental field has been the joint decision with other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Governments to establish a Science Committee, and to appoint a Science Adviser to the Secretary-General.