§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will publish a table comparable with that included with his letter to the hon. Member for Kensington
278Wtaking place; results will be published next year.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Industry what percentage of GDP was spent on scientific research and development in Great Britain and in other EEC member countries in the years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesI have been asked to reply.
There are only periodic surveys of expenditure on scientific research and development in all sectors of the economy. The latest available information is shown below; there are no estimates for Italy and Luxembourg. The table shows gross expenditure on research and development in the natural sciences and engineering as a percentage of gross domestic product—at purchasers' values.
dated 23rd November 1976, showing average weekly expenditure in 1970 and 1976 for all households, for one adult and for two adults and two children, but showing also the corresponding figures for a man and wife both earning and for two adults with one, three and four children.
§ Mr. MaclennanI will place a copy of my right hon. Friend's letter of 23rd November 1976 in the House of Commons Library. Some of the additional material is readily available in published sources, but I do not consider the effort required to compile it in the form requested a justifiable use of the resources of my Department.