HC Deb 22 February 1983 vol 37 c796
19. Mr. Hal Miller

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the new research fellowships in science and technology he announced in December are going to universities and to research councils, respectively.

Mr. Waldegrave

The 45 additional research fellowships in information technology subjects will be funded by the Science and Engineering Research Council and located in institutions of higher education. The 200 new lecturer appointments in the natural sciences, and the 70 such appointments in information technology subjects, will be funded by the University Grants Committee.

Mr. Miller

Will my hon. Friend accept that there is considerable concern in the west midlands that the technical research places lost at Midland universities, especially at Aston, should now be replaced under the scheme in view of the importance of higher technology to the industries of the region and in accordance with what we understood to be Government policy, which included the funding of a science park?

Mr. Waldegrave

The Government have met all the recommendations of the Alvey committee on information technology on the provision of extra students and teachers. It is open to Aston university to bid for some of these places.