Oceanographical Engineering

Oral Answers to Questions — Technology – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16 April 1969.

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Photo of Sir David Price Sir David Price , Eastleigh 12:00, 16 April 1969

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking towards the stimulation and support of commercial developments in the field of oceanographical engineering.

Photo of Mr Gerald Fowler Mr Gerald Fowler , The Wrekin

The National Research Development Corporation is supporting industry in the development of, inter alia, a sea-bed vehicle, an underwater navigation system, and a deep diving system, and we have placed a preliminary study contract with the Construction Industry Research and Information Association to identify industry's research requirements in diving technology and underwater engineering.

Photo of Sir David Price Sir David Price , Eastleigh

Do I detect from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply that the Ministry of Technology is the Department responsible for stimulating and assisting the development of ocean engineering? Do I also detect from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply that, for instance, the Ministry of Public Building and Works is not responsible for that aspect of ocean engineering, and that it has been centralised, as I hope, in the right hon. Gentleman's Department?

Photo of Mr Gerald Fowler Mr Gerald Fowler , The Wrekin

The situation is inevitably that in projects concerned with the hardware for ocean engineering we are necessarily the Department responsible. In this we collaborate closely, and the N.R.D.C. has also given valuable assistance in this sphere.