§ Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now considered the scrutiny of research support services at the Building Research Establishment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HeseltineThis report was my Department'a contribution to a service-wide study of support services at Government research establishment carried out under the guidance of Sir Derek Rayner. I have considered its recommendations very carefully, and as a result savings of £350,000 per annum and nearly 70 posts will be achieved at the Building Research Establishment without serious detriment to its functions. In addition, I have decided to transfer the facilities for timber research from their present location at Princes Risborough to the main BRE site at Garston, which is currently under-utilised. This will allow the release of the Princes Risborough site. This move does not imply any reduction in our commitment to a research programme and capability in timber at BRE.
Further savings of up to £750,000 per annum from support services are being sought.
The full report and action statement are now available, and a copy has been placed in the Library.
Community contributions in respect of United Kingdom public sector investment programmes 1981–82 £ million Roads Rail Electricity Water and Sewerage Land reclamation Tele-communications Housing Total North 9.7 7.9 21.4 14.0 — 30.8 — 83.8 North-West 25.1 12.8 63.3 30.1 — 67.8 — 199.1 South-West 0.2 1.7 2.3 6.2 — 13.5 — 23.9 Yorkshire and Humberside 9.6 14.4 50.5 25.6 — 56.0 — 156.1 Scotland 29.2 16.2 72.8 — 2.8 61.0 — 182.0 Wales 35.3 3.5 16.3 12.7 — 34.9 — 102.7 Northern Ireland 14.8 2.1 — 12.6 0.2 31.6 56.0 117.3 Trunk Roads 146.1 — — — — — — 146.1 Total 270.0 58.6 226.6 101.2 3.0 295.6 56.0 1,011.0