Records of the General External Branch and International and General Secretariat

Records of the Ministry of Technology's General External Branch and International and General Secretariat are relevant to international co-operation in economic, industrial, scientific, technological and manpower matters; and they include:

registered files in HF 1 and HF 2, and minutes and papers of the Advisory Council on Technology in HF 2

• Ministry of Technology, General External Branch, 1966-1967
• Ministry of Technology, International and General Secretariat, 1967-1970

Topics

Labour

The General External Branch existed within the Ministry of Technology (MINTECH) for at least the period November 1966 to February 1967, being replaced in 1967 by the International and General Secretariat.

The Head of the International and General Secretariat Division had responsibility for contributing to international economic policy, policy towards the European Economic Community, and for export promotions, credits and strategic controls. He was responsible for technological collaboration with overseas countries and for arranging visits and missions to and from other countries.

A major function of the International and General Secretariat was the provision of the secretariat for the Advisory Council on Technology. The Council provided a forum for representatives of industry, science and Trade Unions to advise the Minister of Technology on the whole range of projects, themes and ideas associated with the work of the Ministry. The Secretariat also provided the joint secretariat with the Department of Education and Science for the Committee on Manpower Resources and its associated groups.

Additionally, the secretariat provided a focal point for the Department's relations with the Select Committee on Science and Technology, looked after the Department's links with the various committees operating in the field of science and technology and handled general surveys of the Department's work.