§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reduction in research activity has been made in his Department over the past two years in money terms and in manpower; and what areas of research have been most affected.
§ Mr. HeseltineThere has been a 10 per cent. reduction in research expenditure, measured at constant prices, in my Department for the year 1980–81 compared with 1978–79. Over this period expenditure on radioactive waste management has doubled, while research on environmental protection and planning has been reduced by one-fifth.
Non-industrial staff at the two research establishments—the Building Research Establishment and the Hydraulic Research Station—have been reduced by 11 per cent. over the period April 1979 to April 1981.