§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the 1980–81 expenditure by his Department on research and development of £497,000 and the 1981–82 figure of £543,000 was or will be allocated to firms employing less than 200 people.
§ Mr. WaddingtonResearch and development work of the sort that can be carried out in industrial firms is not appropriate to my Department. The work of my Department is largely concerned with problems of employment and unemployment, labour market problems and industrial relations. Research is carried out to obtain necessary factual and background material which will enable the Department to consider and develop various policy options. The Department does not carry out "development" work. External research is commissioned by the Department through commercial, social and academic research organisations.