§ Mr. Adam Hunterasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what was the amount of research funds administered by OSTI/British Library Research and Development Department in the period 1970 to 1975 which went to organisations associated, namely as employers, with members or assessors on the committee at the head of the funding department;
(2) what was the proportion of funds from OSTI/British Library Research and Development Department in the period 1970 to 1975 which went to organisations which were associated, namely through employment, with a member or assessor on the committee at the head of the funding department;
(3) what percentage of research funds administered by OSTI in the period 1965–70 was awarded to organisations associated, namely, by employment, with members or assessors of the committee at the head of OSTI;
(4) what proportion of funds from OSTI in the period 1965 to 1970 was awarded to organisations which were associated, namely, by employment, with members or assessors on the committee at the head of OSTI.
§ Mr. OakesRecords are not kept of this information in the form requested. Up to April 1974, OSTI, as part of my right hon. Friend's Department, was advised by the Advisory Council on Scientific and Technical Information; since that date the Research and Development Department of the British Library has been advised by the Library's Advisory Committee on Research and Development. The main function of both these bodies was to deal with the broad principles on which research funds should be allocated. Decisions on individual grants were taken by the Department, and are now taken by the British Library, after obtaining independent assessments from referees who are outside experts in the field in which the research lies.
§ Mr. Adam Hunterasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science who are the manufacturers or suppliers of the 637W computers and supporting programmes and systems used by OSTI and the British Library; and what is the total amount of money paid by OSTI and the British Library to each of these manufacturers and suppliers.
§ Mr. OakesThe computer needs of both OSTI and the British Library have been met through computer agencies, and computers have not been purchased by the Library.