HC Deb 19 July 1988 vol 137 cc937-8
9. Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what responses he has received to the consultative document, "Strategy for the Science Base".

Mr. Jackson

We have received some 260 responses to the Advisory Board for the Research Council's consultative document, "A Strategy for the Science Base". There seems to be widespread support for most of the board's recommendations.

Mr. Cousins

Does the Minister realise that because he hides behind the vice-chancellors while he cuts the science budget, because he dithers while the research councils are cut and because he has surrendered key areas of research to other departments, the scientific community is losing faith in him and the Government? Or is it that he does not have the guts to meet scientists after such a long time because he has nothing to offer?

Mr. Jackson

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State and I have many meetings with scientists—indeed, I spend about a day a week visiting institutions up and down the country, where I meet scientists and have amicable discussions with them. The hon. Gentleman's premise is wrong. There has been no cut. There has been an increase of 6.2 per cent. this year in the funds that are provided for basic science in this country, and since 1979 there has been an increase in real terms of 15 per cent.

Mr. Dalyell

Among the recommendations for which there is not support, is there a recommendation for premature retirement, and what are the costs of premature retirement that the Minister has in his brief?

Mr. Jackson

I am not sure about the category to which the hon. Gentleman refers. I shall have to discuss that with him to give him the information that he wants.

There is general support in the scientific community for the basic philosophy of the ABRC proposals, which envisage an added emphasis on selectivity and concentration in the deployment of science resources.

Dr. Bray

I am sorry that there seems to be no interest in science strategy from Conservative Members. Is it the Government's policy both to withdraw support from near market research in the Department of Trade and Industry, and for the Department of Education and Science to encourage industrially relevant research? If so, when will the Government sort out their strategy and reply to the ABRC document?

Mr. Jackson

The Government are considering their response to the ABRC document, which addresses a large, complex and important subject. The hon. Gentleman is right to say that the Government are actively reviewing near market research by Government Departments, and he is also right to think that the Government are anxious that the considerations of exploitability and economic return on basic and strategic science should be taken into account—[Interruption.]

Mr Speaker

Order. I ask the House to pay attention to the question.