§ Sir Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Lord Privy Seal how many letters which have been with the Departments in respect of which he answers parliamentary questions for four, six, eight, 10 and over 12 weeks, respectively, as at 10 April and which were from Members of Parliament remain without substantive replies from the Departments.
§ Mr. BiffenThe information requested is as follows:
Number of Weeks Substantive Replies Outstanding 4 2 6 Nil
£ million Agricultural and Food Research Council Economic and Social Research Council Medical Research Council Natural Environment Research Council Science and Engineering Research Council 1974–75 17.5 7.00 27.6 17.3 83.7 1975–76 15.1 9.5 34.0 21.3 106.3 1976–77 19.3 11.5 38.9 26.7 125.1 1977–78 20.9 13.6 41.3 27.9 136.8 1978–79 26.3 15.5 47.0 32.1 153.3 1979–80 29.5 16.8 57.2 36.6 175.6 1980–81 37.5 20.2 72.7 46.7 201.4 1981–82 41.9 20.7 101.5 54.3 216.8 1982–83 43.6 20.7 107.5 58.0 234.4 1983–84* 46.0 22.7 113.7 62.5 254.5 1984–85* 46.5 22.0 117.2 65.9 278.8 * Estimated. Notes:
1. Sources: 1974–75 to 1982–83, the Appropriation Accounts.
1983–84 and 1984–85, the Supply Estimates.
2. From 1981–82 onwards the MRC's grant-in-aid included amounts transferred from the Health Departments.