§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the recent concern expressed by the secretary of the Medical Research Council, Sir James Gowans, that Government cash limits have resulted in some research project being appreciably underfunded, he will consider increasing his Department's funding of medical research.
§ Mr. William SheltonI am not aware that the secretary of the Medical Research Council has recently expressed concern in these terms. The MRC, in common with other publicly funded organisations subject to cash limited grants-in-aid, is expected to conduct its activities within the sums allotted to it. For 1983–84, my right hon. Friend announced on 15 December 1982 that he had accepted the—published—advice of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils that there should be no reduction in the MRC's funds. The MRC's grant-in-aid of £113.7 million from the science budget for that year will, subject to parliamentary approval of the draft Supply Estimates in due course, reflect that decision. The ABRC's advice further recommended level funding for the MRC in 1984–85 and 1985–86. The decision on the size of the MRC's grant-in-aid for 1984–85 will be taken later this year. For the science budget as a whole, the present level of support should, if costs can be contained, be maintained and possibly even increased slightly in 1984–85 and 1985–86.