HC Deb 20 May 1981 vol 5 c120W
Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the 1980–81 expenditure by his Department on research and development of £36.8 million, and the 1981–82 figure of £43 million has been allocated to firms employing fewer than 200 people.

Mr. Heseltine

Precise information is not available. The 1980–81 figure is estimated at 3 per cent. That for 1981–82 is expected to be of the same order. This figure relates only to direct contracts and does not include subcontracts, information about which could be collected only at disproportionate expense.