asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Departmet has made with the implementation of the recommendations of the Strathcona report.
The devolution of project support work from research and development establishments to industry is continuing. For over 30 major equipments, technical responsibility for design, development project support or post-design services work was devolved to industry in 1981. Further devolution is planned for 1982. As recommended, resources are progressively being switched from project work to long-term research.Discussions with industry are continuing about greater industrial involvement in gas turbine research and development and rocket motors.The scope for securing better value for money in the provision of domestic and technical support services at establishments is, as recommended, being tested through the invitation of specific tenders from outside contractors and where appropriate work is being put out to contract.As I explained to my hon. Friend the Member for Aldershot (Mr. Critchley) on 16 March 1981—[Vol. 1, c.
1]—it has been decided to examine by what means and to what extent Farnborough airfield could be opened up to general aviation use. To that end, discussions are currently under way with the local authorities concerned.