37.
asked the Minister of Technology if he will use the resources under his control for the production of types of machine tools which at present can only be obtained from abroad.
No. The resources under my control are for research and development. Whilst it would not be economic for this country to try to be entirely self-sufficient, I look to the industry, wherever desirable, to develop and produce replacements for machines that now have to be imported. If, despite the support which my Department is prepared to give, British manufacturers fail to meet the needs of the country then I shall consider asking Parliament to grant me the necessary powers to undertake manufacture.
38.
asked the Minister of Technology if he will take steps to use the staff and work of Doun
| MACHINE TOOL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS NOW BEING SPONSORED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY THE MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY | |||
| Item | Project/Contract | Estimated number of people involved full or part time | Estimated cost in Financial Year 1964–65 |
| £ | |||
| 1. | Large multi-purpose machine tool | 12 | 73,000 |
| 2. | Petro-forge project | 23 | 20,000 |
| 3. | Automatic control and error correcting systems | 8 | 41,000 |
| 4. | Bearing and slideway systems for machine tools | 4 | 24,000 |
| 5. | Hydrostatic drives for machine tools | 4 | 7,000 |
| 6. | Programming for numerically controlled machine tools | 16 | 40,000 |
| 7. | Application of optical methods | 4 | 32,000 |
| 8. | High pressure metal forming | 7 | 41,000 |
| 9. | Cold forming of steel | 9 | 58,000 |
| 10. | Equipment for the automatic inspection of workpieces during manufacture on machine tools | 1 | 5,500 |
| 11. | Machine for ruling diffraction gratings | 4 | 25,000 |
| 12. | Generation of involute tooth profile | 3 | 1,200 |
| 13. | Surface grinders with air bearings | 4 | 500 |
| 14. | Design study for hydrostatic extrusion machine | 4 | 7,000 |
| 15. | 2½ axes numerical control programme | 5 | 2,600 |
| 16. | Numerically controlled lathe | (see Note 1) | (see Note 1) |
Note 1.—The numerically controlled lathe (No. 16) is a joint venture between the N.R.D.C. and B.S.A. Tools Ltd. the details are confidential to the Corporation and the Company.
Note 2.—The Ministry is also giving financial support to the Machine Tool Industry Research Association and the Production Engineering Research Association.
reay Experimental Station in such a way as to encourage the formation in the city or county of Aberdeen of a factory for the manufacture of modern fine tools such as automation machines.
No. The use of a specialised atomic energy research establishment would not be the best way of promoting developments in the machine tool industry either generally or in a particular area.
41.
asked the Minister of Technology if he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of machine tool development and research projects and contracts that his Department is directly or indirectly sponsoring, the number of people involved, and the likely cost of each project in the current year; and what plans for such research and development exist for the future.
My right hon. Friend is circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT information about 16 existing projects and contracts. A number of other projects are already under consideration, and he hopes that the industry will play its part by producing further imaginative ideas for new machine tools.