§ Mr. Moyleasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will announce details of the Computer Board referred to in his statement of 21st December, 1965, about computers for universities and research councils.
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§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsThe Computer Board for Universities and Research Councils (C.B.U.R.C.) has now been established, after consultation with the University Grants Committee and the Council for Scientific Policy, with the following terms of reference:
- (a) To carry forward on the basis of planned development, allowing for modular growth and compatability, the proposals for providing computers for research in universities and Research Councils announced by the Secretary of State for Education and Science in the House of Commons on the 21st December, 1965, in the light of the Report of the Joint Working Group on Computers for Research.
- (b) On the basis of a continuing review of needs to make recommendations to the Secretary of State in respect of university purchases and to advise Research Councils on their computer proposals (including significant peripheral equipment, but excluding computers provided solely and essentially for the purpose of specific research projects).
- (c) To satisfy itself that computers and equipment provided under the programme are effectively commissioned, adequately used and effectively managed.
As my right hon. Friend announced on 5th July, the first Chairman of the Board will be Professor B. H. Flowers, F.R.S., Langworthy Professor of Physics at the University of Manchester, who was chairman of the original Working Group.
The appointment of the members of the Board is being made in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Technology. I am pleased to say that the first three members have now been appointed. They are Professor Gordon Black, the Director of the National Computing Centre and a member of the original Working Group, Professor Bawn of Liverpool University, and Lord Hals-bury. There are one or two names still to be added.
The Department of Education and Science and the Scottish Education Department, the Ministry of Technology, the University Grants Committee and the Research Councils will be represented at meetings of the Board by assessors.
The Computer Board's office will be at Cornwall Terrace, Regent's Park.
The Board will be in regular contact with Universities and Research Councils and will recommend an annual programme of computer purchases on a "roll 145W forward" basis. In the case of the Universities the recommendations of the Board will be made to the Secretary of State for Education and Science. In the case of the Research Councils they will take the form of advice to the Councils on their proposals.
Reports in respect of each computer installation provided under the programme will be made periodically to the Computer Board by the University or Research Council concerned, and in the case of the proposed regional centres by the responsible Management Committee,
The Board will not be concerned with the academic merits of the academic or research use to whih computers are put but will be available to advise on points of management efficiency and maximum utilisation.