text: As a background to this change of ownership, the general climate for science and technology was becoming less favourable.  Faith in scientific and technological solutions was diminished by some spectacular failures: the de Havilland Comet suffered catastrophic in-flight failures; thalidomide caused tragic birth defects.  Government procurement projects were frequently out of control: the BAC TSR-2 was cancelled after enormous overspend in development and only 24 test flights; the de Havilland Blue Streak missile was also abandoned in 1960 after great expense.
  With Government budgets under severe pressure, contracts from government agencies were becoming harder to obtain,
  Thus most of Fulmers markets were becoming difficult and Fulmers long term viability was in doubt.