Research, Scotland

Oral Answers to Questions — Science – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 28 May 1963.

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Photo of Mr Cyril Bence Mr Cyril Bence , Dunbartonshire East 12:00, 28 May 1963

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science (1) what percentage of the Government expenditure of £100 millions on support for private industrial research has been paid to industrial undertakings located in Scotland;

(2) what percentage of the total Government expenditure on scientific and technical research in 1961–2 was spent in Scotland.

Photo of Mr Denzil Freeth Mr Denzil Freeth , Basingstoke

The Advisory Council on Scientific Policy estimated total Government expenditure in 1961–62 on research and development in the United Kingdom at £385 million, including £177 million on research and development carried out in private industry. The proportions of this spent in Scotland are not known.

Photo of Mr Cyril Bence Mr Cyril Bence , Dunbartonshire East

There are tables of statistics in the Advisory Council's Report which show the proportion of expenditure on development in Scotland. Why cannot we have these figures separated here?

Photo of Mr Denzil Freeth Mr Denzil Freeth , Basingstoke

Although I agree that it would be statistically feasible, I am advised that it would not be statistically significant because of the difficulties of disentangling the research undertaken by Scottish subsidiaries of English firms and vice versa and, in particular, because of research sub-contracted across the Border.

Photo of Mr Cyril Bence Mr Cyril Bence , Dunbartonshire East

I referred clearly in the Question to "industrial establishments located in Scotland". Surely we can have the figures for research and development financed at plants, by whoever they are owned, located in Scotland?

Photo of Mr Denzil Freeth Mr Denzil Freeth , Basingstoke

As I have said, I do not believe that these would be statistically significant figures.