§ Mr. Peter Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he has received from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on the level of the science budget and its distribution between the research bodies; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Sir Keith Joseph:I have received from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils a report advising me on the scale and distribution of the science budget for 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86. On the recommendation of the board, I have arranged for its report "The Science Budget: A Forward Look 1982" to be published today; copies are available in the Vote Office and the Libraries of both Houses.
I have recently announced my decision regarding the Rothschild review of the SSRC and I am announcing today my decision on the Natural History Museum's east infill building project. I will announce my decision on the size of the science budget and the recommended allocations for 1983–84 when the current public expenditure survey has been completed.