HC Deb 08 February 1971 vol 811 cc71-2W
Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate she has made of the total value of sponsored or contract research carried out in research establishments or institutions for which she is responsible; what percentage of total outlay in 1969–70 this represents; and how the position has changed in both the last five years.

Mrs. Thatcher

Figures for 1969–70 are not yet available. In 1968–69, payments for research services and other appropriations in aid contributed about £3 million—less than 10 per cent.—to the expenditure by Research Council establishments and research expenditure by the Natural History Museum. Finance of scientific research and development work carried out in Universities by outside bodies amounted to about £25 million —28 per cent. of the total—of which £12 million came from Research Councils. The corresponding figures for 1964–65 were about £2 million—less than 10 per cent.—and £13 million—27 per cent.

Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate she has made, from information at her disposal, of the total value in 1969–70 of contract or sponsored research in both the civil and defence field placed by the Government in the private sector, including industrial laboratories and independent research institutes, expressing this as a percentage of the total expenditure on research; and if she will state from statistics available to her from international sources, how this percentage compares with that of other countries, including the United States of America.

Mrs. Thatcher

Figures of contract or sponsored research over the whole civil of advanced technology which became universities in April 1965. Separate information on earmarked, sponsored or contract research is not available.

and defence field are not collected. In 1968–69 the value of scientific research and development carried out in the private sector and financed by government is estimated at about £225 million, about 22 per cent. of all expenditure on scientific research and development carried out in the United Kingdom. Up to date information is not yet available to answer the last part of the question.

Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of the total expenditure on research and development in Government research establishments in 1969–70 is sponsored or contract research placed by industry or other outside agencies; what percentage this represents of the total; and how the position has changed in the last five years.

Mrs. Thatcher

This information is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.