HC Deb 05 March 1963 vol 673 cc25-6W
61. Sir C. Osborne

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will authorise transfer of a greater proportion of the nation's scientific research resources from defence to civil industrial problems, and so increase British industrial efficiency and ability to export; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Barber

The effectiveness of the nation's scientific research effort depends not only on the amount of resources deployed in different fields but also on the choice of aims and the exploitation of results. In the industrial field the National Economic Development Council proposes to devote early attention to this problem and the Government is giving high priority, in the deployment of the nation's resources, to increasing industrial efficiency and to promoting faster economic growth.