HC Deb 11 November 1988 vol 140 c319W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what additional provision has been made in the extra £120 million for science in 1989–90 for(a) CERN, (b) AIDS research, (c) the British Antarctic Survey and (d) the British Geological Survey; and how much of each such additional sum is for (i) capital expenditure and (ii) inflation.

Mr. Jackson

The Government have yet to take a decision on the United Kingdom's future membership of CERN. In respect of AIDS I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Mr. Janman) on Thursday 10 November at columns253–54; on the British Atlantic Survey (BAS) to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire West (Mr. McLoughlin) on Tuesday, 8 November at columns 134–35; and on the British Geological Survey to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) on Monday 7 November at columns 2 and 3.

Only the additional amount for BAS includes a capital element, which is £8.4 million. With regard to the question of inflation I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Motherwell, South (Dr. Bray) on Wednesday 9 November at columns 194–95.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will explain the make-up of the extra £120 million for science and technology in 1989–90 announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, distinguishing between university, research council and collaborative research programmes, showing how much of each sum represents provision for inflation.

Mr. Jackson

The £120 million increase in 1989–90 announced by my right hon. Friend includes an increase in the science budget of £95 million over the previous plans for that year, bringing the total up to £825 million—a year-on-year cash increase of 16 per cent.; spending of £12 million by the Institute of Plant Science Research following the privatisation of part of the Plant Breeding Institute; and £13 million from the additional funding provided for the universities in 1989–90. My right hon. Friend is inviting the advisory board for the research councils to advise him on the allocation of the science budget; he will announce the detailed distribution of those funds once he has received and considered the board's advice. The increase in the science budget between 1988–89 and 1989–90 is 11 per cent. in real terms.