§ Sir H. Legge-Bourkeasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the action taken by Her Majesty's Government since the publication on 24th July, 1969, of the Third Report from the Select Committee on Science and Technology, H.C. Paper 400, on the Natural Environment Research Council, especially in respect of paragraphs 33, 82, 90 and 93, and on the reasons for any variations from, or non-acceptance of, any of these recommendations.
§ Mr. David PriceThe recommendation of paragraph 33 of the Third Report from the Select Committee on Science and Technology is for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, but I am advised that it will be necessary to complete certain associated work before the allocation of resources to the particular problems mentioned by the Select Committee on Science and Technology can be considered.
The recommendations in paragraphs 82 and 93 are subject to the review of functions of central Government as announced in the White Paper on the Re-organisation of Central Government.
The recommendation contained in paragraph 90 is for the Construction and Industry Research and Information Association and the industrial companies concerned to consider. The Department has 441W close contacts with the Underwater Engineering Group of C.I.R.I.A., and since the Select Committee reported the Association of British Oceanological Industries has come into being with the aim, among others, of effecting liaison with governmental and trade departments in the United Kingdom and abroad.