Written Answers To Questions
Wednesday, 7th November, 1956
Scientific And Industrial Research
Research Council (Composition)
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, when he expects the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Act, 1956, to come into force; what will be the composition of the new Research Council; and what remuneration its members will receive.
By Order-in-Council dated 31st October, 1956, Her Majesty has approved 7th November as the date on which the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Act, 1956, comes into force.The composition of the new Council is:
* Sir Harry Jephcott, D.Sc., F.R.I.C. (Chairman).—Chairman, Glaxo Laboratories Ltd.
* Sir Eric Ashby, D.Sc., Sc.D.—President and Vice Chancellor, The Queen's University of Belfast.
Professor C. E. H. Bawn, C.B.E., Ph.D., F.R.S.—Grant-Brunner Professor of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, University of Liverpool.
* Sir Hugh Beaver, K.B.E., M.I.C.E., M.I.Chem.E.—Managing Director, Arthur Guinness. Son & Co. Ltd.
* Professor P. M. S. Blackett, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S.—Professor of Physics, Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London.
* H. Douglass, Esq.—General Secretary, Iron and Steel Trades Confederation.
Sir Walter Drummond, M.I.C.E., M.I.Mech.E.—A Director of George Angus & Co. Ltd., and also Smith's Dock Co. Ltd.
* W. L. Heywood, Esq., O.B.E.—General Secretary, National Union of Dyers, Bleachers & Textile Workers.
Dr. Willis Jackson, D.Sc., D.Phil., M.I.E.E., M.I.Mech.E., F.R.S.—Director of Research and Education, Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Ltd.
* Sir Philip Johnson, D.Sc.—Deputy Chairman, R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie & Co. Ltd.
Professor E. A. G. Robinson, C.M.G., O.B.E., M.A.—Professor of Economics, University of Cambridge.
Dr. H. W. Melville, D.Sc., F.R.S., the Secretary of the former Advisory Council, is Secretary of the new Council.
Payment of £1,000 per annum to the Chairman and £750 per annum to each member of the Council has been authorised under Section 2 (5) of the Act.
* Member of former Advisory Council
Fuel And Power
Petrol Coupons
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the cost of paper and cost of printing the petrol coupons prepared for petrol rationing; how many coupons were printed; and what arrangements are to be made for their issue to the public.
Sufficient coupons have been printed as a precautionary measure to enable the Government to introduce petrol rationing if necessary. Printing has cost some £16,000. Arrangements for issuing them will be announced if and when the occasion arises.
War Crimes
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what record Her Majesty's Government are taking of war crimes and breaches of international law committed during the initiation and continuance of the present armed operations; and whether an undertaking will be given that all war criminals will be brought to trial.
The military and other authorities concerned will take notice in the usual way of any breaches of the rules regulating the conduct of armed conflicts between nations.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Aide-Mémoire of 23rd April, 1945, from the United Kingdom to the International Court, continues to represent the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
The Aide-Mémoire referred to is presumably that delivered to the United States Government on 23rd April, 1945, making certain proposals as to the treatment to be extended to Hitler and other Nazi leaders if they should fall into Allied hands. The international court referred to is presumably the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal, since the International Court of Justice at The Hague was not at that time in existence.
As a result of negotiations that took place subsequent to the delivery of the Aide-Mémoire of 23rd April, 1945, the Governments of France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom and the United States drew up and signed an Agreement in London on 8th August entitled the "Agreement for the Prosecution and Punishment of the Major War Criminals of the European Axis", to which was annexed the Charter of the Nuremberg Tribunal.
This Agreement represented the policy of the United Kingdom Government with reference to the matters dealt with by the Nuremberg Tribunal, and superseded all previous proposals.