HC Deb 07 March 1961 vol 636 cc23-4W
73. Sir H. Legge-Bourke

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what progress has been made in achieving the target of doubling the 1956 level of output of scientists and technologists, as was recommended by the Scientific Manpower Committee of the Advisory Committee on Scientific Policy.

Mr. Freeth

The Committee recommended in 1956 that we should aim at an annual output of 20,000 qualified scientists and technologists over the next 10–15 years. Present estimates indicate that we shall have reached this figure—which is double the estimated output at that time—by about 1964, after only 8 years. This is a notable achievement which, I think, reflects great credit on the universities and technical colleges concerned.