HC Deb 31 January 1968 vol 757 cc357-8W
Mr. Dalyell

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will make available the report prepared at the request of his Department based on a survey of industry in the Slough Trading Estate, which re-commends closer co-operation between Government research development estab- lishments and industry; and if he will make a statement on the steps he has taken to implement the recommendations.

Mr. Benn

As I explained, in the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 11th July, 1967 the report followed a quick pilot survey of the problems of small firms and was not specifically directed to the rôle that establishments might play. It contains information on firms given in confidence which cannot therefore be published.

Government research and development establishments already co-operate closely with a wide range of industries and we are working to bring them even closer together. In particular, advisory and consultative services are being extended over a wide front; some specific examples are machine tools standards, non-destructive testing, fluid power and engineering design data.—[Vol. 750, c. 393–94.]