HC Deb 14 January 1971 vol 809 c107W
Mr. Idris Owen

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the future of industrial liaison centres and of the Production Engineering Advisory Service.

Sir J. Eden

The Industrial Liaison Centre scheme will be extended by a further year to 31st March, 1972. This will enable the Government to consider the future of the scheme in the light of the Report of the Bolton Committee on Small Firms.

However, in the course of the review of advisory services to industry announced earlier, we have decided to terminate the Production Engineering Advisory Service when the present contract with the Production Engineering Research Association for its operation on behalf of the Department expires on 31st March, 1971. Advice and consultancy on production engineering problems are available on commercial terms from a number of alternative sources. Industrial liaison officers can provide firms with information on these if necessary.