§ Lord O'HAGANasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will state their reasons for rejecting the EEC's draft Resolution on Guidelines for a Common Science and Technology Policy.
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for SCOTLAND (Lord McCluskey)The Commission's proposals for guidelines for science and technology are to be considered by the EEC Council of Ministers along with the opinions of the European Parliament and the Scientific and Technical Research Committee,352WA CREST, on this subject. In preparation for this, Her Majesty's Government, like the Governments of other Member States, have been studying the guidelines. They have been making their assessment in the light of the value they attach to a selective approach to science and technology in the European Communities, and the need for effort to be concentrated on a sensibly limited number of carefully chosen research and development projects. They see considerable value in the Commission's work as a statement of broad policy, and regard the guidelines as an interesting and detailed compilation; but they think that the formal approval of these guidelines by the Council would imply more than a general recognition of their value. In these circumstances, Her Majesty's Government think it would be appropriate for the Council to take note of the guidelines.