ABSTRACT
The Conservative government of the early 1960s established the National Economic Development Council (NEDC) and a series of Economic Development Councils for particular industries. The next Labour government which took office in 1974 pushed greater government owership of industry and planning under the NEDC. The nationalization process has been used to channel government funds to depressed industries not otherwise likely to have been able to attract private capital. Rolls-Royce sales are divided almost evenly between the United Kingdom and exports, with most domestic sales going to the government. The British government financially supports Research and Development and attempts to make technology more widely available to firms. The Government concluded that more money would be made available for collaborative research, advisory services, and schemes for encouraging "best practices" and improving key skills. A Ministry of Defense official speculated on what role the government would take if major defense producers found themselves in substantial distress.
