asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there is funcťioning at the present time a body similar to that of the Admiralty Inventions Board in the last war; and whether he can state the duties of that board, and give the names of ťhe principal personnel engaged?

The Department of Scientific Research at the Admiralty now performs the functions carried out by the Board of Invention and Research in the last war. Its duties include co-operaťion in the general direction and organisation of research work and the consideration, in conjunction with the technical departments concerned, of proposals from outside invenťors. The names of the senior staff will be found in the usual works of reference. In addition the advice of outside scientists and engineers is freely and frequently obtained on particular problems.

Viscountess Astor:

Is it not true that the House of Commons votes very little for research unless there is a war on, and that the Admiralty have been greatly hampered by not having enough money during the last 10 years?

I know of no case where they have been hampered by a lack of funds.