§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reduction in research activity has been made in his Department over the past two years in money terms and in manpower; and what areas of research have been most affected.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe Department's estimated expenditure on research and development undertaken by external researchers increased from £28.1 million in 1979–80 to £34.5 million in 1980–81. estimated expenditure in 1981–82 is £23.4 million; this excludes the commissioning funds for biomedical research which were returned to the science budget with effect from 1 April 1981. The composition of the programme changes from year to year reflecting the priority attached to particular research areas; details are given in the Department's annual handbooks of research and development, copies of which are in the Library.
Within the Department, the social research team has been reduced in numbers since December 1979 from 18.5—whole-time equivalent—to 12.5, with a corresponding reduction in activity. There has also been some reduction in staff time devoted to health building and engineering research and development; but, because the staff involved carry out a wide range of other functions, it is not possible to quantify this reduction.