§ Mr. David Priceasked the Minister of Technology how many patents were taken out each year between 1965 to 1967 by the National Research Development Corporation; what percentage of these arose from work in publicly financed establishments; what was the annual cost in these years to the National Research Development Corporation of processing all potential and actual patent applications; and what was the average annual income to the National Research Development Corporation from their current holding of patents.
§ Mr. BennThe following figures relate to the Corporation's accounting periods. A change in the financial year was made in 1966, which entailed a nine-month period ending in March that year.
of publicity to ensure that the change is as smooth as possible; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellishI have no reason to doubt that the construction industry can achieve the programme which it has set itself, and I have already pledged Government's adherence to it on its own building programmes. I hope that all 197W concerned, in both the private and public sector, will similarly play their part in carrying out the agreed time table.
The British Standards Institution and various organisations within the construction industry have already embarked on a comprehensive campaign to publicise the change to metric. The technical press and the professions are also playing a prominent part.
My Department has recently published the first of a series of bulletins on Going Metric in the Construction Industry, and others are in preparation. In addition, the Ministry of Technology, in collaboration with the other Departments and Organisations closely concerned, are planning more general publicity through such media as posters, films, exhibits, and so on. All this will be timed in relation to the progressive steps of the changeover.