HL Deb 02 February 1972 vol 327 cc951-4WA
LORD KENNET

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the sums spent in the last convenient year on research in the following areas, namely, science, medicine, agriculture, the natural environment, and social science by respectively:

  1. (a) the relevant Research Council;
  2. (b) Ministers other than the Secretary of State for Education and Science (distinguishing between in-house research and contract research);
  3. (c) universities (distinguishing between research funded by the Government whether ad hoc or through the University Grants Committee, research funded by the university itself, research funded by industry, research funded by charitable organisations);
  4. (d) in-house research conducted by industry.

EARL JELLICOE

Information is not available in the precise form requested in the Question. Such information as is available is set out below; the figures relate to total sums expended on research and development in the United Kingdom in 1968–69:

Expenditure by: £ thousand
Science Research Council 36,268
Medical Research Council 15,757
Agricultural Research Council 13,898
National Environment Research Council 9,226
Social Science Research Council 734
Total 75,883

(Research Council support for postgraduate training has been excluded. The corresponding Estimates for 1971–72 are published in A Framework for Government Research and Development (Cmnd. 4814)).

Information for 1968–69 on research and development expenditure by sector is set out in the following table. This

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT IN EACH SECTOR ACCORDING TO SOURCE OF FINANCE
1968–69 (Provisional figures)
United Kingdom £ thousand
Sector carrying out the work
Government Universities and further education establishments Public Corporations Research Associations Private Industry Other Total amount financed by each sector
(2)
Sector providing the funds (3) (4) (5) (3) (4)
Government 222,401 69,007 152 4,627 203,959 13,996 514,142
Universities — 6,400 — — — —(5) 6,400
(6) (5)
Public corporations — 401 39,711 917 4,333 193 45,555
(6) (5)
Research associations — — — 213 286 27 526
(5)
Private industry 14,464 3,433 211 7,487 363,503 7,050 396,148
Overseas 5,378 1,500 854 1,211 27,041 523 36,507
Other 6,964 3,506 30 — 2,783 4,014 17,297
Total cost of research and development carried out in each sector 249,207 84,247 40,958 14,455 601,905 25,803 1,016,575
(1) Except where otherwise stated, figures based on returns from the sectors carrying out the work.
(2) Academic year 1967–68.
(3) Including £358,000 spent by local authorities.
(4) Including £1,858,000 financed by local government.
(5) Figure based on returns from sector providing the funds.
(6) Included in private industry.

Further information is available from published sources, including the Memorandum by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in respect of the Estimates 1971–72, at Table VII; Statistics of Science and Technology 1970, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office for the Department of Education and Science and

information is provisional and has not previously been published:

Ministry of Technology; and Economic Trends, No. 205 for November 1970, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office for the Central Statistical Office.

House adjourned at twenty-three minutes past ten o'clock.