§ Mr. McKelveyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the public expenditure figures on research and development for the past five years at constant prices.
§ Mr. MellorThere is no unique way of expressing cash expenditure in constant prices. One way is to deflate the expenditure by the change in the gross domestic product deflated at market prices thus removing the general effect of inflation. On this basis, expenditure by my Department on research and development over the last five financial years at 1977–78 prices has been as follows:
£ millions 1977–78 137.3 1978–79 135.9 1979–80 133.6 1980–81 143.4 1981–82 *145.6 * estimated outturn