Hansard

Written Answers

Volume 327: debated on Wednesday 2 February 1972

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Written Answers

Coal Strike And Office Temperatures

LORD HAWKE

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will suspend the minimum temperature provisions of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act for the duration of the coal strike; and whether they will examine these provisions with a view to seeing if there can be some permanent changes leading to somewhat lower minimum temperatures, thus relieving commerce and industry of overhead charges.

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO
(LORD DRUMALBYN)

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. Section 6 of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 requires (a) a reasonable temperature in all rooms when persons are employed, and (b) a minimum temperature of 16° C. (60.8°ss F.) after the first hour in rooms where a substantial proportion of the work does not involve severe physical effort.

The minimum standards of temperature are not required in office rooms used by the public where their maintenance is not reasonably practicable; or in rooms in shop or railway premises where their maintenance is not reasonably practicable or would cause deterioration of goods. In these cases, employees must have convenient access to means of warming themselves and the employer must afford them reasonable opportunities to do so.

Any permanent modifications to occupational safety and health legislation must await the report of the Robens Committee on Safety and Health at Work.

Research Expenditure

LORD KENNET

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the sums spent in the last convenient year on research in the following areas, namely, science, medicine, agriculture, the natural environment, and social science by respectively:

  • (a) the relevant Research Council;
  • (b) Ministers other than the Secretary of State for Education and Science (distinguishing between in-house research and contract research);
  • (c) universities (distinguishing between research funded by the Government whether ad hoc or through the University Grants Committee, research funded by the university itself, research funded by industry, research funded by charitable organisations);
  • (d) in-house research conducted by industry.

    • EARL JELLICOE

    Information is not available in the precise form requested in the Question. Such information as is available is set out below; the figures relate to total sums expended on research and development in the United Kingdom in 1968–69:

    Expenditure by:£ thousand
    Science Research Council36,268
    Medical Research Council15,757
    Agricultural Research Council13,898
    National Environment Research Council9,226
    Social Science Research Council734
    Total75,883
    (Research Council support for postgraduate training has been excluded. The corresponding Estimates for 1971–72 are published in

    A Framework for Government Research and Development (Cmnd. 4814)).

    Information for 1968–69 on research and development expenditure by sector is set out in the following table. This

    SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT IN EACH SECTOR ACCORDING TO SOURCE OF FINANCE
    1968–69 (Provisional figures)
    United Kingdom £ thousand

    Sector carrying out the work

    Government

    Universities and further education establishments

    Public Corporations

    Research Associations

    Private Industry

    Other

    Total amount financed by each sector

    (2)
    Sector providing the funds(3)(4)(5)(3) (4)
    Government222,40169,0071524,627203,95913,996514,142
    Universities—6,400————(5)6,400
    (6)(5)
    Public corporations—40139,7119174,33319345,555
    (6)(5)
    Research associations———21328627526
    (5)
    Private industry14,4643,4332117,487363,5037,050396,148
    Overseas5,3781,5008541,21127,04152336,507
    Other6,9643,50630—2,7834,01417,297
    Total cost of research and development carried out in each sector249,20784,24740,95814,455601,90525,8031,016,575
    (1) Except where otherwise stated, figures based on returns from the sectors carrying out the work.
    (2) Academic year 1967–68.
    (3) Including £358,000 spent by local authorities.
    (4) Including £1,858,000 financed by local government.
    (5) Figure based on returns from sector providing the funds.
    (6) Included in private industry.

    Further information is available from published sources, including the Memorandum by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in respect of the Estimates 1971–72, at Table VII; Statistics of Science and Technology 1970, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office for the Department of Education and Science and

    information is provisional and has not previously been published:

    Ministry of Technology; and Economic Trends, No. 205 for November 1970, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office for the Central Statistical Office.

    House adjourned at twenty-three minutes past ten o'clock.