HC Deb 19 March 1981 vol 1 c187W
Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the general principles upon which his Department lets research contracts or grants to universities or polytechnics rather than conduct the research in its own institutions.

Mr. Goodhart

The Ministry of Defence satisfied its needs for research by a co-ordinated programme of activities in industry, in universities and polytechnics and in its own establishments. Within this general policy the decision whether a particular piece of research is conducted at a university or polytechnic largely depends on the nature of the work and the availability of scientists, research staff and facilities to do it.

Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list all research contracts or grants let by his Department to departments of British universities or polytechnics in each of the years 1975 to 1980; for each contract or grant what was its title, the name of the principal investigator concerned, its financial value, and the number of years for which it is to run; whether, in each case, the results of the research are classified, or may be freely published, and, in each case, whether the principal investigator or any ancillary staff are subject to security clearance or investigation prior to or following the issuing of the contract;

(2) in the case of each contract of grant let by his Department to departments of British universities or polytechnics in each year from 1975 to 1980, in what way the defence of the realm was aided.

Mr. Goodhart

In any one year there are approximately 500 research agreements current between the Ministry of Defence and British universities and

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