CENTRAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (REPORT) (Hansard, 21 January 1969)

§ The Prime Minister

The Government welcome the Report and the objectives set out in it are accepted by the Departments concerned. The specific measures which the Council recommend for promoting technological innovation in small firms are being pursued by the Government through the industrial liaison service, and the pilot scheme to help small firms in Glasgow and Bristol employ expert consultants. We are also giving substantial support to the work of the British Productivity Council, the British Institute of Management, and the Centre for Interfirm Comparison. Innovation in firms of all sizes is being supported through the purchasing power of public authorities.

What else can be done by industry will be discussed with the National Economic Development Council, the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation and the nationalised industries, with whom formal consultation on the Report is being arranged.

The Report also bears on the research and development carried out by Government-financed Research Establishments. Those Establishments which have to some extent completed their original mission have been or are being reduced in strength, thus releasing qualified manpower for employment in industry or education; in other cases, where there is good reason for maintaining direct Government participation in special areas 87W of research and development, diversification and reorientation of existing programmes is taking place in consultation with industry. The extent and pace of any further contraction must depend on an assessment of the need to maintain adequate levels of work of good quality in support of Government policies.

Finally, to help meet the need for qualified manpower in industry, the pattern of education and training is being changed so as to prepare the way towards a better distribution of qualified people between research, development, design, production, marketing and management.