§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what decisions were taken on the fourth framework programme at the Research Council on 1 December.
Mr. Robert G. HughesThe Council reached agreement on the remaining aspects of the fourth framework programme. This will enable the Commission to issue calls for proposals on most, if not all, of the outstanding specific programmes in December. We believe that the framework programme presents United Kingdom researchers with a worthwhile challenge to which they will be able to respond fully, as they have done in the past.