Research and Development (Hansard, 13 November 1980)

§ Mrs. Renée Short
asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how much has been spent on schemes to help industry with its research and development for each year that each scheme has been in operation, at constant prices; how much has been spent this financial year to date and how much is available; and what plans he has to increase the amounts in the next financial year;
(2) if he will list all those schemes which are currently available to help industry with its research and development programmes; and how he proposes to make industry aware of these.

§ Mr. David Mitchell
The Department's current programme to encourage industrial R and D includes the schemes and programmes listed below. Expenditure to date on each, at 1980–81 prices, is given for each year since 1976–77. A forecast of expenditure for the full year 1980–81 most of which is committed to existing projects is also given. The annual White Paper will show future planned levels of support.
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DoI R AND D SCHEMES/PROGRAMES EXPENDITURE IN £'000s AT 1980–81 PRICES

Expenditure to date Forecast outturn

1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1980–81

1. Product and Process Development Scheme … … … — 1,301 3,903 15,962 7,728 22,762

2. Microprocessor Applications Project (R and D component) … — — 8 1,271 2,041 8,000

3. Microelectronics Industry Support Scheme (R and D component) — — 288 473 428 2,250

4. Software Products Scheme … … … … … … 536 310 476 909 366 927

5. Research and Development Requirements Boards … … 67,414 61,155 61,030 63,940 28,100 61,900

6. Manufacturing Advisory Service … … … … … — 206 1,544 2,200 724 3,100

7. Robot Advisory Service … … … … … … — — — — 199 206

8. Energy Conservation Demonstration Project Scheme … … — — 177 293 306 556

9. Industrial Energy Thrift Scheme … … … … … N.A. 646 543 1,133 763 1,000

10. Minerals Exploration … … … … … … … 2,655 2,601 2,846 2,996 1,068 3,008

11. Industry Act 1972 section 8 (R and D component) … … N.A. N.A. 6,689 7,864 2,300 7,000

12. Space Technology:

(a) International … … … … … … … 46,024 47,384 46,414 44,228 17,774 39,071

(b) National … … … … … … … 5,090 5,427 4,708 4,599 1,400 3,991

13. Civil Aeronautics Technology … … … … … 34,175 29,205 24,026 24,427 10,400 24,376

155,894 148,235 152,662 170,295 73,597 178,147

The above table gives details of DoI R and D expenditure that can be broadly categorised as schemes. It does not include all DoI Making and D expenditure. For example, various technical services have been left out. The International Space expenditure is paid to the European Space Agency but a major proportion of this returns in the form of contracts to United Kingdom industry.

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Industrial awareness of the R and D support available is promoted by the distribution of the notes for guidance to applicants, by the Department's regional offices, by articles in the press and by day to day contacts between officials and industrialists. Examples of the type of activity supported under the above schemes appear in the "DoI R and D Programmes Report" for 1979–80 due out shortly. The Department's own journal "British business" will carry a special supplement on the R and D schemes available.

§ Mrs. Renée Short
asked the Secretary of State for Industry what evidence he has that industry is cutting back on its research and development programmes.

§ Mr. David Mitchell
The Department of Industry has no precise details of the current levels of R and D expenditure in industry. Comprehensive surveys of this kind are undertaken only every three years; the last survey was of 1978 R and D expenditure. Recently, however, the Department has received a lot of anecdotal evidence of companies cutting back on their R and D expenditure, and this is supported by our current experience.

DoI R AND D SCHEMES/PROGRAMES EXPENDITURE IN £'000s AT 1980–81 PRICES
												Expenditure to date	Forecast outturn
								1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1980–81
1. Product and Process Development Scheme	…	…	…	—	1,301	3,903	15,962	7,728	22,762
2. Microprocessor Applications Project (R and D component)	…	—	—	8	1,271	2,041	8,000
3. Microelectronics Industry Support Scheme (R and D component)	—	—	288	473	428	2,250
4. Software Products Scheme	…	…	…	…	…	…	536	310	476	909	366	927
5. Research and Development Requirements Boards	…	…	67,414	61,155	61,030	63,940	28,100	61,900
6. Manufacturing Advisory Service	…	…	…	…	…	—	206	1,544	2,200	724	3,100
7. Robot Advisory Service	…	…	…	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	199	206
8. Energy Conservation Demonstration Project Scheme	…	…	—	—	177	293	306	556
9. Industrial Energy Thrift Scheme	…	…	…	…	…	N.A.	646	543	1,133	763	1,000
10. Minerals Exploration	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,655	2,601	2,846	2,996	1,068	3,008
11. Industry Act 1972 section 8 (R and D component)	…	…	N.A.	N.A.	6,689	7,864	2,300	7,000
12. Space Technology:
(a) International	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	46,024	47,384	46,414	44,228	17,774	39,071
(b) National	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	5,090	5,427	4,708	4,599	1,400	3,991
13. Civil Aeronautics Technology	…	…	…	…	…	34,175	29,205	24,026	24,427	10,400	24,376
								155,894	148,235	152,662	170,295	73,597	178,147
The above table gives details of DoI R and D expenditure that can be broadly categorised as schemes. It does not include all DoI Making and D expenditure. For example, various technical services have been left out. The International Space expenditure is paid to the European Space Agency but a major proportion of this returns in the form of contracts to United Kingdom industry.