§ Mr. Rookerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost in forgone revenue of the changes in personal tax allowances given in his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr, Official Report, 19 January, columns 967–8.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonAbout £890 million in a full year at 1978–79 income levels.
632Wsatisfied that the level is sufficient to enable future exploitation by British industry.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsIn reply to a question by my hon. Friend on 13 December 1978—[Vol.960, c. 251]—I gave information about Research Council support for biotechnology. The Advisory Council for Applied Research and Development, the Advisory Board for the Research Councils and the Royal Society have recently established a joint working party to review existing and prospective science and technology relevant to industrial opportunities in biotechnology and to consider what steps should be taken to facilitate British industrial developments in biotechnology.
Further action by my Department and other bodies concerned will depend on the recommendations of the working party.