§ Mr. Parkinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money is spent by his Department on anti-pollution research; and what proportion of the Department's annual budget this sum represents.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerIt is impossible to assess accurately this figure as many items in our research budget would in themselves have substantial indirect effects on anti-pollution activities. Added to this, a substantial part of the Department's budget is in the form of payments to local authorities which themselves organise various forms of anti-pollution research. The Department will be spending £2.2 million within its own research programme on matters which can be described as being completely involved with anti-pollution.