§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been spent on scientific equipment in universities for each of the last 10 years at constant prices; and what percentage of total university spending that represents in each case.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe information available is as follows:
Expenditure from Furniture and Equipment Grant Percentage of total grant allocated £m 1980–81 constant prices (approximate) Financial year £ million Per cent. 1971–72 83.2 7.1 1972–73 87.3 6.9 1973–74 105.9 8.2 1974–75 46.8 4.2 1975–76 80.2 7.0 1976–77 57.9 5.1 1977–78 44.7 4.8 1978–79 60.5 6.1 1979–80 63.3 6.2 1980–81 67.0 6.4 It is not possible to identify separately spending on scientific equipment, either from the furniture and equipment grant or from recurrent grant or other sources.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider the proposal that the University Grants Committee might allocate portions of its grants to universities for specific research.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe recurrent grant distributed by the University Grants Committee is intended to provide general support for the universities' research capability. The selective support of research in the natural and social sciences is a matter for the research councils. It is nevertheless open to the UGC to earmark sums within its grant for the development of teaching and research in particular disciplines, as it has done recently in the field of microelectronics and is expected to do soon for developments in biotechnology.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many (a) teachers arid (b) researchers have been employed by universities for each of the last 10 years; and if he will show the specific figures for medicine, physics, biology, mathematics and engineering.
§ Mr. WaldegraveIt is not possible in the time available to collate the considerable amount of information requested. It is in any case fundamental to British universities that teachers and researchers are not separate categories. I shall write to the hon. Member.
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§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been spent on the day-to-day running of laboratories in universities for each of the last 10 years at constant prices; and what percentage of total university spending that represents in each case.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThis information is not separately identified in returns of universities' expenditure.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been spent on computers in universities for each of the last 10 years at constant prices; and what percentage of total university spending that represents in each case.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe following table gives the information available, that is, the cost of computer facilities provided for universities by the computer board excluding facilities provided from other sources:
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£ million 1980–81 constant prices (approximate)
Financial Year Expenditure by Computer Board Percentage of total grant allocated 1971–72 32.4 3.0 1972–73 35.1 2.9 1973–74 34.0 2.8 1974–75 28.8 2.6 1975–76 29.6 2.6 1976–77 30.8 2.7 1977–78 21.5 2.6 1978–79 27.6 2.9 1979–80 30.9 3.2 1980–81 26.2 2.5
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students were studying at university in October 1981; what were the figures for October 1975 and October 1970; what were the funds allocated to universities for each of these dates at constant prices; and how much per head per student this represents in each case.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThis information is not immediately available, but I shall reply as soon as possible.