HC Deb 07 December 1994 vol 251 cc241-2W
Mr. Harvey

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the functions and objectives of the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Committee.

Mr. Robert G. Hughes

The Advanced Manufacturing Technology Committee provided advice to the Department of Trade of Industry and the former Science and Engineering Research Council on research and development requirements in advanced manufacturing. The committee was disbanded on 31 March 1994. The committee's terms of reference in respect of the SERC and the DTI were as follows:

DTI To identify and update the R and D industrial and technological innovation requirements in the area of advanced manufacturing; to advise on the objectives, balance and strategy for Departmental expenditure on R and D in the area of advanced manufacturing; to advise DTI on the allocation of funds necessary to secure those objectives; to consider and advise on proposals referred by the DTI to the Committee; and to make recommendations to DTI on longer-term or more speculative programmes; and to propose measures which would further the application of science and technology within advanced manufacturing.

SERC To advise on the development of the SERC programme and on the resources that should be provided for it; to monitor the SERC programme generally and advise on its implementation; to approve SERC expenditure within the powers delegated to the Committee; and to make reports on its activities as required by SERC.

Mr. Harvey

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table showing the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of any reports and submissions produced by the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Committee in each of the last three years.

Mr. Robert G. Hughes

Responsibility for servicing the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Committee rested with the Science and Engineering Research Council before the Committee was disbanded on 31 March 1994.

1992 1993 1994
Number of meetings held 8 6 1
Budgeted expenditure 0 0 0
Actual expenditure 0 0 0

The AMTC was a joint committee of the Department of Trade and Industry and the SERC. It was jointly serviced by the DTI and the SERC, with DTI in the lead until 31 September 1993, and the SERC thereafter. No report was published by the Committee. Its advice was channelled through the internal organisation of the DTI and the SERC.

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