HC Deb 28 March 1994 vol 240 cc628-9
29. Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the budget for the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council for 1994–95; and what proportion of this is devoted to CERN.

The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science (Mr. David Davis)

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced on 2 February that the allocation for the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council was £184.9 million in 1994–95. In that year, we expect the CERN contribution to be about £56 million. That is some 30 per cent. of that funding.

Mr. Williams

Does the Minister agree that research in particle physics is extremely expensive for relatively low spin-off or industrial application and that, looking to the future, we really must make every effort to persuade the United States and possibly Japan to become involved in the work of CERN?

Mr. Davis

The hon. Gentleman is right. Indeed, the British Government are doing everything possible to assist the director-general of CERN to encourage as many non-member states, including those that the hon. Gentleman mentioned, to join in the funding of the large hadron collider project, which is the biggest and perhaps most important super-physics project of this decade.

Mr. Ian Bruce

What part of the budget is likely to be spent with AEA Technology and the new company that will come out of AEA Technology? Can my hon. Friend give any good news to my constituents at Winfrith about new projects that they may be able to win in their new privatised stake?

Mr. Davis

I cannot tell my hon. Friend the exact figures for any contracts about to be won by AEA Technology. One thing I will say, however, is that there is a great deal of spin-off from CERN in practical as well as theoretical science in cryogenics, magnetic science and computers. We do the most possible to ensure that British firms get the best possible slice of that action.