HC Deb 19 February 1980 vol 979 cc113-4W
Q56. Mr. Ian Lloyd

asked the Prime Minister whether, following the recommendations of the joint Royal Society, Advisory Board for Research Councils and Advisory Council on Applied Research and Development Report under the chairmanship of Dr. A. Spinks, she will set up an inter-departmental steering group to co-ordinate ministerial action in support of an industrial research and development programme to develop industrial biotechnology in the United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister

I recently received the working party's report, and am giving careful consideration to its recommendations and to the need for inter-departmental machinery to co-ordinate activity in this area.