HC Deb 09 February 1968 vol 758 c246W
Mr. Moonman

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the numbers and the levels of staff in his Department engaged on research in connection with the establishment of the European Technological Community; and if he will detail the nature and scale of such research.

Mr. Darling

The Board of Trade are participating in the inter-Departmental preparation and development of the Govment's proposals in relation to European technological co-operation. Besides technological co-operation in the industries for which it has responsibilities the Board of Trade are concerned with patents and company law which also can facilitate progress in this field. Officials at various levels are concerned, but their participation in this work accounts for only a part, which it would not be practicable to quantify, of their Departmental duties.