§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how much her Department has spent in each year since 1995(a) as a Department and (b) through grants to external bodies on (i) the promotion of and (ii) research into biotechnology; [121655]
(2) how much her Department has spent in (a) sponsorships, (b) grants and (c) other financial assistance to biotechnology companies in the UK. [121656]
§ Ms Hewitt[holding answer 25 June 2003]: For the most recent financial year (2002–03), the Department's expenditure on sponsorships, grants and other financial assistance for the biotechnology industry sector in the UK was approximately £18 million.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) spent approximately £81 million on biotechnology in 2001–02. Further information is available in the BBSRC's "Annual Report and Accounts 2001–2002".
The Medical Research Council (MRC) expenditure on biotechnology in 2001–02 came to approximately £140 million. Further information is in MRC's "Annual Report 2001–2002".
It is not possible to give precise information, due to the lack of a generally accepted definition of biotechnology and the differences in the ways individual Research Councils analyse their annual expenditure.
Information about expenditure dating back to 1995 is not readily available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.