§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reduction in research activity has occurred in his Department over the past two years in money terms and in manpower; and what areas of research have been most affected.
§ Mr. WhitelawInformation in the form requested is readily available only for the research activities referred to in my answer of 17 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Ravensbourne (Mr. Hunt) in which I announced changes in the arrangements for research and scientific development in my Department—[Vol. 6 c. 369.] Economies have been and are being made, but no overall reduction in our research effort has resulted. The information requested is as follows:
1 December 1979 1 December 1981 Staff in post 296½ 282 Estimated annual salary cost £2,202,000 £2,907,000 Annual cost of research excluding salary cost £3,697,000 (actual) £4,665,000 (estimated) Other research is undertaken in the Home Office police department, Directorate of Telecommunications and radio regulatory department.