§ Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Secretary of State for Defence what work has been carried out by the Electronics Research Council and sub-committee; what it is estimated to cost in the forthcoming year; when its work will cease; and whether any other body will take over any of its functions.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe Electronics Research Council—ERC—and its committees have in the past advised the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Industry, and NEDO sector working parties on scientific, technical and resource questions referred to them by those bodies.
Following the Government's review of non-departmental bodies, the ERC will be wound up formally on 31 March 1980. Thus, no costs will be incurred by the ERC in the coming financial year.
Discussions are already in progress to determine how best the Defence Scientific Advisory Council can modify its present consultative functions to cover some of the more important defence and related aspects of the electronics field formerly dealt with by the ERC.