§ Lord VAIZEYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware that on page 9 of the Guardian newspaper, 5th July 1977, 25 separate advertisements for Science Research Council studentships were published; how much public money this cost; and what measures they propose to take to ensure that Science Research Council money is used to promote scientific research.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION AND SCIENCE (Lord Donaldson of Kings-bridge): Under its Royal Charter the Science Research Council's responsibilities include the payment of awards to postgraduate students. In recent years the 1099WA Council has developed a number of schemes under which students carry out research projects mounted jointly by higher education institutions and industrial companies. The advertisements mentioned by my noble friend were placed by individual institutions and not financed by the Council. They relate to a large number of separate research projects for which the institutions wish to select the best possible candidates. The cost of the advertisements to public funds could not be obtained without disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.