HC Deb 27 April 1965 vol 711 cc38-9W
Mr. James Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether a decision has yet been reached on the recommendation contained in paragraphs 67–70 of the Report of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy for 1963–64 concerning a proposed new organisation for scientific and technical information.

Mr. Crosland

Yes. An Office for Scientific and Technical Information has been set up within the Department of Education and Science as from 1st April, 1965, as part of the reorganisation of civil science. It has a pioneering function which can be briefly stated as follows:

  1. "(a) Generally, to advise the Secretary of State for Education and Science on the conduct of, and support for, U.K. activities in scientific and technical information over the whole field of the natural and social sciences and their related technologies,
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  2. (b) to promote research and development within the field of scientific and technical information, the improvement of existing information services, and experiment with new ones,
  3. (c) to stimulate the training of scientists for information work and in the use of information services,
  4. (d) to co-ordinate such action as is taken with the work of other Government and independent organisations,
  5. (e) to have responsibility for the National Lending Library for Science and Technology and for grant-aid to Aslib (the Association of Special Libraries and Information Bureaux), and,
  6. (f) to advise the Secretary of State for Education and Science on official U.K. participation in the work of international agencies concerned with scientific and technical information."

In exercising these general functions it has taken over all support for research and development in this field previously administered by D.S.I.R. It has not, however, taken over the specialised information services of D.S.I.R.; such as the technical liaison scheme for industry. Indeed the Ministry of Technology, other Departments, and the Research Councils will have responsibility, as at present, for matters of scientific and technical information related particularly to their own special interests.

I am setting up an Advisory Committee for Scientific and Technical Information to advise me in this field. Sir James Cook, F.R.S., the Vice-Chancellor of Exeter University, has agreed to be the first Chairman; details of membership will be issued shortly.

Estimates for 1965–66 provide for an expenditure of £180,000 for the work of the Office.