§ 94. Mr. Goodhewasked the Minister of Aviation what is the planned reduction in strength of his Department, especially in the research and development establishments, consequent upon the Government's plans for the major reduction in size of the British aircraft industry.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe Government's plans for the future of the aircraft industry will depend largely on the report of the Committee under Lord Plowden which is now sitting. That Committee is also considering the future rôle of the research and development establishments in relation to the industry. In any case the size of the Ministry and its establishments does not depend so much on the size of the British industry as on the future requirements, including long-term86W requirements, of the Defence programme and in the civil field.
The strength of the Ministry and its establishments is constantly under review in the light of the future load of work. Some areas of the Department, for example, the Contracts and Technical Costs Directorates and some civil aviation branches, are seriously undermanned and efforts are being made to increase the strengths in these areas.