§ Dr. David Owenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has considered paragraph 465 of the South-West Economic Planning Council's report, A Region with a Future; and what action he proposes to take thereon.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsWhen a decision has been taken to establish a new research centre its location (subject to any overriding policy decisions of Govern-22W ment) is considered in the light of the facilities and requirements of the research to be done and where these are available; and of the recommendations of the Working Party on Liaison between Universities and Government Research Establishments. Where several sites fulfil these requirements then factors such as those set out in the report to which my hon. Friend refers are taken into account in making the final choice. As was stated in the Government's reply to the South-West Economic Council's report, full weight will be given to the claims of the South-West in considering the locations of research centres but the claims of other regions have to be borne in mind, especially in relation to the industries situated in them.