Science Budget (Hansard, 20 November 1991)

§ Sir Gerard Vaughan
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a full statement of the calculations underlying the transitional arrangements in respect of dual support for science funding summarised in his answer to the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis),Official Report, 7 November, columns 202–04.

§ Mr. Alan Howarth
As my right hon. and learned Friend announced on 29 July, transitional arrangements will apply to projects for which grant funding is already in progress at 1 August 1992.
The direct costs element of these projects will continue to be paid under existing arrangements but the research councils will make a contribution to indirect costs at the rate of 40 per cent. of the staff element of direct costs.
The new dual support arrangements will apply in full to all grants starting on or after 1 August 1992; direct costs for these projects will be assessed using the new boundary and these grants will also be subject to a 40 per cent. addition to the staff element to cover indirect costs.
The additions to the science budget for dual support announced on 7 November take account of the expected incidence of additional costs resulting from this phasing arrangement. They take account of the average grant profiles of the research councils; variations in the proportions of direct costs relating to staff; and the expected incidence of additional direct costs for each council. Information on the incidence of additional direct costs is based on the study undertaken jointly by heads of the research councils and the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals, published in July. Copies of the joint report are available in the Library.

§ Sir Gerard Vaughan
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements as to quantum and timing of subscriptions to CERN he has taken into account in determining the changes in the science budget over the three years 1992–93 to 1994–95.

§ Mr. Alan Howarth
In line with usual practice, the Secretary of State determined the changes in the science budget over the three years 1992–93 and 1994–5 following advice from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on the research councils' latest assessment of their research priorities and consequent spending requirements.
In formulating its advice, the ABRC gives due regard to the research councils' international commitments.