§ Mr. Madelasked the Minister for the Civil Service what changes are to be made following the re-allocation of functions among the Departments, in Departmental responsibility for industrial research establishments and research associations.
§ Mr. David HowellWith the re-allocation of functions among Departments, responsibility for certain specialist research laboratories which were previously part of the Ministry of Technology has been reviewed. These are the Water Pollution Research Laboratory, the Hydraulics Research Station, the Forest Products Research Laboratory and also the Fire Research Station.
The four laboratories will be transferred to the Department for the Environment with effect from 1st January, 1971, together with the responsibility for administering grants to the Water Research Association and Construction Industry Research and Information Association, the Heating and Ventilating Research Association and the Timber Research and Development Association.
These research activities mainly support the functions of the new Department. As regards fire research, the transfer of the Fire Research Station is without prejudice to consideration of the recommendations of the Holroyd Committee on the Fire Service relating to the future organisation of fire research. The Fire Offices Committee, which shares with Her Majesty Government the financing of the Fire Research Station, will be associated with this consideration.