asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science if he is aware of the need to strengthen the field of marine research by the formation of a marine sciences research council or a marine and freshwater sciences research council in order to give authority and encouragement at the organisational level to the unity which scientists are striving to achieve at the working level; and if he will take steps in the public interest to form such a council and give it the requisite powers.

This proposal, which has only recently been put forward, will be considered in relation to the recommendations of the Slater and Trend Committees in the field of natural resources.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that the proposal involves a very urgent question of principle for representatives of the fishing industry? Will he hurry up and see that, in the interests of British fisheries, the council asked for in my Question is constituted and put to work?

Since the question of the constitution of a new research council is a matter of major significance in scientific policy, it cannot be regarded out of relation to the structure of other research councils.