§ Sue DoughtyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether researchers from humanities disciplines focusing on public understanding of science and cultural studies of science will be supported by the funding increases announced in the paper Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004–14, published in July; and if he will make a statement. [188079]
§ Ms HewittI have been asked to reply.
As outlined in the Science and Innovation Investment Framework, the Government intends to increase the scale of its activities in advancing the Science and Society agenda. This includes activities to promote public confidence and engagement in science. Expenditure in this area will be supported through the Office of Science and Technology's Science and Society budget which will, overall, increase from £4.25 million per year in 2005–06 to over £9 million per year by 2006–07. Arts and humanities research clearly provide important theoretical and practical bases for public engagement with science and technology. Applications for financial support for researchers from the arts and humanities disciplines will be treated in the same way as those from the natural and social sciences.