§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the furtherance of tribology studies and the funding of Centres of Tribology; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RidleyThe Department will continue to receive advice in this field from the Committee on Tribology, whose report for 1970 will shortly be published. Any recommendations involving direct Government action will be considered in the context of the Government's overall policy of disengagement from industry.
The Centres of Tribology based on Leeds University and the University College of Swansea have recently been given further grants to carry them through to 1972, after which they are expected to be self-supporting. The Centre based on the Risley Engineering and Materials Laboratory of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority has recently submitted proposals for continued support. These proposals are at present under consideration.