§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what the aims and objectives are of the proposed European Research Council; and what areas of competence it will have; [173640]
(2) from which budget the costs of the proposed European Research Council (ERC) will be met; and to what purpose those funds would be put were the ERC not to be established; [173641]
896W(3) what the proposed (a) reporting structures and (b) organisational controls are for the proposed European Research Council; [173642]
(4) when she expects a decision to be made on (a) the creation of a European Research Council (ERC) and (b) the UK participation in the ERC; and if she will make a statement; [173643]
(5) what the (a) total cost and (b) UK contribution to the proposed European Research Council will be; [173644]
(6) which (a) people and (b) organisations are involved in assessing the implications of the UK's membership of the European Research Council; [173645]
(7) what co-ordination is envisaged between the UK research councils and the proposed European Research Council; [173646]
(8) in what areas of research the European Research Council will be involved. [173885]
§ Ms HewittThe possible establishment of a European Research Council is still at an early stage, and no proposal has yet been made by the European Commission. The Government are currently consulting about the matter as part of their overall consultation on Framework Prograrmme 7. A copy has been placed in the Libraries of the House.