HC Deb 08 February 1980 vol 978 cc357-8W
Mr. Ian Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for. Education and Science (1) whether, following the recommendations of the joint Royal Society, the Advisory Board for Research Councils and Advisory Council of Applied Research and Development report, under the chairmanship of Dr. Spinks, he will make funds available to the University Grants Committee and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors to support the expansion of a limited number of centres of excellence in biotechnology;

  1. (2) whether, following the recommendations of the Spinks report, he will 358 support the establishment of 20 new technology and research posts at universities over the next five years by investing £2 million in the provision of additional laboratory facilities;
  2. (3) whether, following the recommendations of the Spinks report, he will encourage greater interaction between Departments and undergraduate courses in the biological, chemical and engineering sciences;
  3. (4) whether, following the recommendations of the Spinks report, he will extend the Science Research Council's CASE awards to the Agricultural and Medical Research Council and establish analogous post-doctoral awards;
  4. (5) whether, following the recommendations of the Spinks report, he will instruct the Medical Research Council to review its role in relation to industrial development based in biological processes.

Mr. Macfarlane

The Government will consider the recommendations in the report when it is received.