asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will make a statement on the future policy of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in respect of expenditure on research in Government establishments and grants to industrial research associations.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8th December last to the hon. Members for Newton (Mr. Lee) and St. Marylebone (Sir W. Wakefield), in which I referred to the planned expansion of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research during the next five years. This includes increased provision for industrial research associations (including any that may be formed over the next five years) as well as for the research establishments of the Department.