HC Deb 02 July 1975 vol 894 c452W
Mrs. Winifred Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what EEC projects are under discussion by the Commission for fresh funds for scientific research; what proportion of this proposed research it is proposed to spend in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, and what sums have been spent on scientific research in each of the last five years and where.

Mr. Kaufman

The only current Commission proposals not yet approved by the Council and which could entail fresh funds for scientific research are:

  • R/60/75: Review of Joint Research Centre programmes.
  • R/162/75:Energy research.
  • R/1113/75: Agricultural research.
Once a programme has been adopted by the Council, implementation is again a matter for the Commission, which places research contracts wherever it considers the work can best be done for the benefit of the Community as a whole. It is not usually possible to say in advance what proportion will be spent in different parts of the Community, nor is such information available for past years. Since the United Kingdom joined the European Communities in 1973 the sums budgeted for research have been as follows:
1973 1974 1975
Euratom plus EEC—
*mua 74.7 84.1 96.0
£m. 31.1 35.0 40.0
ECSC—
mua 18.5 23.5 36.9
£m. 7.7 12.3 19.8
* Million units of account.