HC Deb 05 June 1991 vol 192 cc236-7W
Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, for each research council, for the latest available year(a) the amount of money allocated to each research council and spent in Wales and (b) the proportion of public money allocated to each research council that was spent in Wales.

Mr. Alan Howarth

In 1990–91, the research council's expenditure in Wales from the science budget and the proportion as a percentage of the total were as follows:

Expenditure in Wales derived from the science budget(£ million) Percentage of science budget to council
AFRC 2.6 2.9
ESRC 0.6 1.6
MRC1 1.1 0.6
NERC 10.9 8.1
SERC 6.7 1.5
1 1989–90 figures.

Details of research council expenditure in Wales from all sources of public money are not available.

Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has given any indication to the Advisory Board for the Research Councils of his view of the future and the future use of its flexibility margin.

Mr. Alan Howarth

My right hon. and learned Friend announced to the House on 22 May 1991 at column 500 his acceptance of the ABRC's advice on the allocation of the flexibility margin.

Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received any representations on the ethical standards of the Science and Engineering Research Council.

Mr. Alan Howarth

My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of representations about the review by the Science and Engineering Research Council of its forward programme. I am not aware of any which refer to the council's ethical standards.

Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he plans to review the future of the Science and Engineering Research Council.

Mr. Alan Howarth

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to review the future of the Science and Engineering Research Council.

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