HC Deb 10 December 1982 vol 33 cc634-5W
Mr. Mudd

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list, for the years 1975 and 1981, in figures and as a percentage change (a) the annual budget of the Transport and Road Research Laboratory, (b) the total number of staff and (c) the number of staff employed in (i) the transport operations department, (ii) the transport systems department, (iii) the safety department, (iv) the traffic engineering department, (v) administration, (vi) the highways department, and (vii) the structures department; and what relative priority has been given to those areas of the work of the Transport and Road Research Laboratory concerned with transport policy and behavioural matters and those concerned with the engineering aspects of road and structure design.

Mr. David Howell

The gross TRRL spend for the financial years 1975–76 and 1981–82 at outturn and at constant prices was:

1975–76 1981–82
£m £m
Out-turn prices 10.0 12.7
1981–82 price base 21.9 12.7

The volume decrease from 1975–76 to 1981–82 was 42 per cent.

The average number of staff in 1975–76 was 1,084 and in 1981–82 was 776, a decrease of 28 per cent.

The average number of staff employed in the Departments specified was:

Departments 1975–76 (31.9.75) 1981–82 Percentage Decrease
Transport Operations 71 56 and a half 20
Transport Systems 91 51 and a half 43
Safety 103 and a half 60 42
Traffic Engineering 72 56 and a half 22
Admin 101 70 and a half 30
Highways 93 and a half 72 23
Structures 101 71 30

The Department's research programme is formulated in accordance with Rothschild's principles for Government research and development. The needs for research and project proposals are considered on their merits by research requirements committees. Priorities and resources are assigned to reflect ministerial policies: the final selection of projects is agreed by Ministers.

Most areas of TRRL research have a policy element, but the figures given show that over the period in question, relative priority was given to civil engineering research which sustained a smaller reduction than average for TRRL research.