§ 29. Mr. Urwinasked the Minister of Technology what proposals he has for extending and improving research and development facilities in the Northern Region; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. Bray:The Department is encouraging links between industry and the Universities and Technical Colleges in the region and is in touch with International Research and Development in Newcastle regarding further research contracts. The National Research Development Corporation has authorised expenditure up to £1.4 million in the Northern Region in the last 18 months.
§ 44. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Technology what discussions he as had with the North Regional Planning Council on a programme of technological development for the region, and in particular the provision of research and development units; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Dr. Bray:The Council's Report "Challenge of the Changing North" included recommendations on technological development which were discussed with the Chairman and other representatives of the Council at a meeting with Ministers earlier this year.
§ Mr. Urwinasked the Minister of Technology how many research stations are in the Northern Region; and how this number compares with the other regions covered by his Department.
§ Mr. Fowler:There are no research stations of the Ministry of Technology in the Northern Region. The number (excluding out-stations) in other regions are:
Scotland 2 Wales Nil North West Nil Yorkshire and Humberside Nil East Midlands Nil West Midlands 1 South West 2 South East 12
§ Mr. Urwinasked the Minister of Technology how many grant-aided research associations are in the Northern Region; and what is the comparison with other regions.
§ Mr. Fowler:The numbers of grant-aided research associations in the various Regions are as follows:
Northern Region 1 Yorkshire and Humberside 9 North West 2 East Midlands 5 West Midlands 5 South West 1 East Anglia 1 London and South East 19 Scotland 1 N. Ireland 1 This analysis refers to the main laboratories or headquarters of the associations. In addition, four of the associations included above (Cast Iron, Wool, Ship, and Production Engineering) have branch laboratories or offices in Scotland, one, Ship, in London, the Iron and Steel R.A. has branch laboratories in Wales, Northern Region and Yorkshire and Humberside, whilst the Timber R.A. has branch offices in Scotland, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside, North West, South West (2) and London.
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§ Mr. Urwinasked the Minister of Technology what estimate he has made of the number of private industrial laboratories in the Northern Region; and what is the comparison with other regions.
§ Mr. Fowler:The Ministry has regular contact with some 87 private industrial laboratories in the Northern Region but no comprehensive information on the location of laboratories in Britain is available to provide a basis for comparison with other regions.
§ Mr. Urwinasked the Minister of Technology how many independent and sponsored research laboratories there are in the Northern Region; and what is the comparison with other regions.
§ Mr. Fowler:There is one large independent and sponsored research laboratory in the Northern Region. There are eight smaller laboratories in the South-East Region, one in East Anglia and one in Scotland. One subsidiary company of a large U.S. organisation has an office in London.
§ Mr. Urwinasked the Minister of Technology what was the total value of research and development contracts placed in the Northern Region in each of the last five years; and what is the comparison with other regions.
§ Mr. Fowler:Until this year no figures were kept to make this comparison. In April this year we started to keep a breakdown by geographical regions of all contracts placed by my Department. The figures for research and development contracts for the six-month period April-September, 1967, are:
£ Northern Region 66,000 Wales 257,000 Northern Ireland 383,000 Yorkshire and Humberside 1,675,000 Scotland 2,256,000 North-West 3,687,000 Midlands 4,109,000 North Midlands 4,185,000 Southern Region 5,655,000 Eastern Region 9,549,000 South-West 20,610,000 London and South-East 25,325,000