§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total sum expended from his Department's Vote upon science and technology; in what ways it is allocated; and how he ensures that such sums are spent wisely.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThe main bulk of my Department's expenditure on science and technology is made under the Science and Technology Act and the Civil Aviation Act 1949. Net expenditure under these Acts is expected to total £122.3 million in 1977–78, and is allocated as follows:
INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION General Industrial Research and Development Class IV Vote 3 £ million Industrial Research Establishments and Computer Aided Design Centre 18.1 Industrial Research and Development Contracts, Grants and Other Support 22.2
Technological and Industrial Sponsorship Class IV Vote 4 Industrial support and development contracts and software development scheme 9.5
Aerospace—Class IV Vote 5 Aircraft and Aeroengine projects and assistance Aircraft and aeroengine general research and development programme 15.6 Development of the Concorde Aircraft 23.1 Development of RB 211 engines -1.5 Other civil aircraft and engine projects 2.8
Space National Space Technology Programme 3.3 International Space Programmes 29.2 Further detail is available in Supply Estimates 1977–78 Class IV. Some additional expenditure for technological development is included in the 559W provision for the various industry schemes under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972.
In deciding the allocation and utilisation of funds, I have the advice of various bodies including research and development requirements boards, the Joint Research Committee, the Joint Space Group, the Aeronautical Research Council and the Joint Committee for Avionics Systems Research. These bodies include representatives from industry to ensure that the programmes supported are directed towards industrial needs.
INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION All industries Manufacturing industries Index 1970=100 Percentage change from previous year Index 1970=100 Percentage change from previous year 1945 … … … … … … … … 1946 … … … … … … … … 1947 … … … … … … … … 1948 … … … … 50.5 … 47.8 … 1949 … … … … 53.8 +6.5 51.3 +7.3 1950 … … … … 57.1 +6.1 55.2 +7.6 1951 … … … … 58.4 +2.3 56.8 +2.9 1952 … … … … 56.6 -3.1 54.0 -4.9 1953 … … … … 60.2 +6.4 57.8 +7.0 1954 … … … … 63.3 +5.1 61.0 +5.5 1955 … … … … 66.4 +4.9 64.8 +6.2 1956 … … … … 66.9 +0.8 64.7 -0.2 1957 … … … … 68.1 +1.8 66.2 +2.3 1958 … … … … 67.5 -0.9 65.5 -1.1 1959 … … … … 70.9 +5.0 69.3 +5.8 1960 … … … … 75.8 +6.9 74.9 +8.1 1961 … … … … 76.7 +1.2 75.0 +0.1 1962 … … … … 77.4 +0.9 75.2 +0.3 1963 … … … … 79.7 +3.0 77.9 +3.6 1964 … … … … 86.5 +8.5 85.1 +9.2 1965 … … … … 89.1 +3.0 87.6 +2.9 1966 … … … … 90.6 +1.7 89.2 +1.8 1967 … … … … 91.7 +1.2 89.8 +0.7 1968 … … … … 97.2 +6.0 96.0 +6.9 1969 … … … … 99.9 +2.8 99.6 +3.8 1970 … … … … 100.0 +0.1 100.0 +0.4 1971 … … … … 100.3 +0.3 99.4 -0.6 1972 … … … … 102.5 +2.2 102.0 +2.6 1973 … … … … 109.9 +7.2 110.5 +8.3 1974 … … … … 106.9 -2.7 108.8 -1.5 1975 … … … … 101.6 -5.0 102.3 -6.0 1976 … … … … 102.2 +0.6 103.4 +1.1 … equals not available. Source:
1948–67 Economic Trends, November 1973.
1968–72 Monthly Digest of Statistics, October 1977.
1973–76 Latest CSO estimates.