§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied that the investment of £27 million of public money by the six research establishments of his Department has resulted in a comparable return in the value of goods produced in Great Britain.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldOf the total expenditure of approximately £27 million by the establishments in 1977–78, £6 million was devoted to work on standards and specifications of national importance and £5 million was for work contracted by other Government Departments for regulatory and planning purposes. Of the remaining £16 million spent in direct support of the industrial strategy £4 million was paid for by industry itself, leaving a net charge of £12 million on my Department's Vote.
I am satisfied that the net cost is justified by the improvement in quality, the reduction in manufacturing costs and the increased export opportunities for goods manufactured in this country. Some specific examples of the contributions by the establishments in these areas are given in the publication "Research Establishments Review 1978" recently issued by my Department. I am arranging to have a copy be placed in the Library.