§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he has taken or intends to take to satisfy himself that the best results are being obtained from research and from the expenditure on research; and whether he will order small independent investigations to find out information regarding the level of Government expenditure on research in the four other leading countries compared with the United Kingdom and to assess whether better results could be obtained from the expenditure involved if all research was carried out at certain universities.
§ Sir E. BoyleThe Research Councils are appointed to ensure that the funds allotted to them are deployed to the best advantage on expert advice, and the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy reviews periodically the balance of our scientific effort, and draws attention to deficiencies. The United Kingdom are co-operating in an international study, organised by the O.E.C.D., which aims to produce comparable figures for Government and other civil research and development expenditure in member countries. Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that it is advantageous for research to be carried on outside, as well as within, universities. Concentration of all research in particular universities would be an unsound policy.