§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department has spent on planning and local government research in each of the last four years, breaking this 13W sum down into the amounts spent in Scotland, England and Wales, respectively.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe total spent on research into planning and local government in 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75 was £0.90 million, £1.09 million and £1.91 million, respectively. There is no precisely comparable figure for 1971–72—the year in which DOE was formed and its present research requirements machinery set up—but a breakdown of spending for that year in terms as closely comparable as possible produces a corresponding figure of £0.42 million. Most of this work is concerned with problems which arise throughout the United Kingdom, and a precise breakdown in terms of respective amounts spent in respect of England, Scotland and Wales would be extremely difficult. I shall, however, write to the hon. Member about this as soon possible.