HL Deb 23 May 1974 vol 351 c1671WA
The EARL OF SHANNON

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What expenditure of public money has been authorised by the Research Requirements Boards of Government Departments, other than Defence, from the time of their formation and until the most recent convenient date, showing for each approved proposal the following information:

  1. (a) the purpose,
  2. (b) the contractor,
  3. (c) the amount approved, both in total and annually if spread over more than one year,
  4. (d) and, where appropriate, any additional contributions made from industrial or other non-public sources.

LORD BESWICK

There are three Government Departments, which between them have 27 Requirements Boards and similar bodies, which are spending some £70 million in the present financial year. To provide the details asked for would involve a disproportionate effort in time and cost. The first annual reports of the Requirements Boards of the Department of Industry are expected to be published at the beginning of June. In addition the three Departments publish annual reports on research and development.