HC Deb 25 April 2002 vol 384 cc407-8W
20. Mr. McWalter

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to ensure that the results of the research assessment exercise do not lead to a lowering of the resources devoted to scientific research. [50366]

Margaret Hodge

The funding distributed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England using the outcome of the research assessment exercise in science, engineering and medical subjects increased from £583.2 million in 2001–02 to £613.1 million in 2002–03. This funding is passed to higher education institutions as part of a block grant and it is for them to determine their spending priorities.