§ 29. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the change in Government spending on scientific research since 1979.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science (Mr. Robert Jackson)The science budget was £324.5 million in 1979–80 and is £1,050 million in 1992–93. That represents an increase of 25 per cent. in real terms since 1979 after making appropriate adjustments for changes in funding responsibilities during the period.
§ Mr. MarshallI welcome the fact that the Government spend a greater percentage of gross domestic product on civil research than is spent in Japan or in the United Slates. Is my right hon. Friend happy that the quality of the research is adequate as well?
§ Mr. JacksonMy hon. Friend draws attention to the important point that we should look at the ouput from the investment in science and technology just as much as we look at the financial and other inputs into it. The academic output of British science—the quality to which my hon. Friend refers—appears to be in good health. During the 1980s, Britain remained second only to the United States in the number of papers published and in the number of citations of those papers.