§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer how much research and development funds were provided by central Government to institutions in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland, in the last year for which figures are available. [84393]
§ Ms HewittI have been asked to reply.
The Government publication "Forward Look 2001" (Cm5338) shows that in 2000–01, UK government departments and devolved administrations were estimated to have spent £5006 million on R&D, including £1518 million on the Science Budget, much of which will have been spent with external institution. Within this total the direct expenditure by the devolved administrations was £104 million by the Scottish Executive, £21 million by the National Assembly for Wales, and £32 million by the Northern Ireland departments. No overall figures are available to indicate the geographical breakdown of the institutions who received funding from these sources, but so as far as the breakdown of Science Budget spending is concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Strangford on 25 November, Official Report, column 33W.