§ Mr. Adam Butlerasked the Secretary of State for Industry how much taxpayers' money has been used in grant and loan aid to the Motor Industry Research Association in the past year and since its establishment; and what are the Government's future financial plans for the association.
§ Mr. KaufmanSince the establishment of the research requirements boards at the end of 1972 the Government's policy has been to move away from giving372W grants to research associations to awarding them research and development contracts for specific projects. In the current year—1975–76—the Mechanical Engineering and Machine Tools Requirements Board has placed with the Motor Industry Research Association contracts at an estimated cost of £130,000 and in 1974–75 at a cost of £50,000. The Government have not provided loan aid to the association. Since its establishment in 1945 up to the end of grant in June 1974 the association received a sum amounting to £1,926,514. The continuing policy of the Government is to place contracts with the association as appropriate through the Mechnical Engineering and Machine Tools Requirements Board.