§ 46. Mr. Philip Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice has been tendered by the Advisory Board for the Research Councils during the last 12 months; and what action has been taken as a result.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneMy right hon. and learned Friend received advice from the board in January, August and December 1980 concerning the possible distribution of the science budget in the years 1981–82 to 1983–84. He approved planning guidelines in April, and announced them in May, on the basis of the Government's expenditure plans in Cmnd. 7841 and subject to review in the light of further advice following the board's 1980 forward look exercise. The subsequent advice dealt with the same period, and my right hon. and learned Friend has now accepted the Board's recommendations for modifications to the proposed 1981–82 allocations following the decision to reduce the previously planned level of the Science Budget for that year by £2 million at 1980 survey prices.