§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Industry, in the light of the recent Cabinet Office paper detailing the weakness in exploiting innovation in Great Britain, whether he is satisfied that his Department is supporting sufficient innovative research in the universities and in industry.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThe Government's views on this and other aspects of the ACARD report on industrial innovation will be made known shortly.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will adopt the recommendation made by the TUC in its latest economic review and establish a national body of employers and trade unionists to co-ordinate Great Britain's research and development and direct it to meet industry's needs.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThe Government will study all parts of the TUC economic review. However, research and development is already discussed in NEDC and forms part of the work of the tripartite sector working parties. We have pursued426W a policy of appointing more trade unionists and industrialists to sit on the research requirements boards.