§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of Technology what study he is making of the problem of how the rate of technological innovations, hitherto dependent on Government expenditure on defence research, can be geared to expenditure on civil research.
§ Mr. FowlerOne of the most important functions of the Research Group, recently set up in the Ministry, is to seek to maximise the benefits to civil industry from work undertaken primarily for defence purposes.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of Technology what he is doing to promote the civil application of research in defence establishments on electronic materials.
§ Mr. FowlerAn Electronics Materials Unit has been set up at the Royal Radar Establishment, Malvern to meet quickly the demands of industry, universities and other research centres for research quantities of materials not available from normal commercial sources. The Unit also helps industry by demonstrating new methods of growing and testing materials and by making available designs of equipment used in the Establishment's own manufacturing processes. The Unit's Information Centre gives advice on sources, availability and performance. Visitors are welcomed to see and discuss the work at Malvern.
5WThis Department and the Ministry of Defence have also placed a number of contracts with industry for the development and investigation of materials. These contracts have a direct influence on the industry for civil as well as defence purposes.