HC Deb 28 October 1966 vol 734 cc235-7W
Mr. W. Baxter

asked the Minister of Technology if he title statement about the recent official visit to this country of Academician Kirillin, Deputy Prime Minister of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Mr. Benn

Academician V. A. Kirillin, Chairman of the State Committee for Science and Technology, visited the United Kingdom from 13th–27th October. He was accompanied by Madame Kirillina, and a party of leading Russian technologists from the State Committee.

The visit was a return for the one paid to the U.S.S.R. in May by my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Cousins).

During his stay, Academician Kirillin and his party called on my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, and had talks with the First Secretary, with my hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, and with the Chairman of the Science Research Council, as well as a number of meetings with myself. They also visited a number of industrial and commercial organisations. A summary of their programme is set out at the end of this Answer.

As my hon. Friend will know, Academician Kirillin signed an agreement with Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. on 17th October, covering exchanges in the fields of plastics, petrochemicals and synthetic fibres.

In the fields of trade and of technological collaboration and exchanges we were able in our discussions to identify possible areas for the extension of collaboration. I am now following up further what can be done on our side in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and with representatives of industry.

The opportunity was taken of Mr. Kirillin's visit to bring to his attention the contribution which British industry could make to the future development of the Soviet motor vehicle industry.

I much valued the opportunity of discussing with Academician Kirillin many questions of common interest, particularly in relation to the management of resources and effective selection between competing claims on such resources. It was interesting to hear that the U.S.S.R. has similar problems to those which we are experiencing. We therefore would welcome a continuing dialogue with them, as they would with us.

Academician Kirillin invited me to visit the U.S.S.R., and I hope to be able to do so in due course.

The programme of the visit was as follows:

13th October

  • Arrival.
  • Discussions with the Minister of Technology.

14th October

  • Call on the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs.
  • Lunch with the Royal Society.
  • Visit the headquarters of the English Electric Co.
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  • Dinner with the Confederation of British Industry.

16th October

  • The Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge.

17th October

  • Headquarters of Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd.
  • Government lunch.
  • Call on the Minister of State for the Department of Education and Science.

18th October

  • Dungeness Power Station.
  • Government reception.

19th October

  • Oxford: Department of nuclear physics.

20th October

  • Newcastle: International Research and Development Co. Ltd. and C. A. Parsons.

21st October

  • Strathclyde University.
  • National Engineering Laboratory.
  • Dinner at Edinburgh Castle.

24th October

  • The Science Research Council.
  • Discussions with Minister of Technology.
  • Call on the Prime Minister.

25th October

  • Central Electricity Generating Board Research Laboratories.
  • Talks with Leyland Motors Ltd.

26th October

  • London Chamber of Commerce lunch.
  • Call on the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
  • Talks with British Motor Corporation.
  • Visit Motor Show.

27th October

  • Departure.

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