§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by the gas undertakings in Northern Ireland and the Department of Economic Development on research and development in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. PriorThe amounts spent by the gas undertakings in Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Department of Economic Development on work commissioned from consultants in each of the past five years was as follows: 471W
Year Ending Department of Economic Development Gas Undertakings £ £ 31 March 1979 — — 31 March 1980 — — 31 March 1981 — *37,584 31 March 1982 62,128 — 31 March 1983 42,157 † 26,715 * Northern Ireland Gas Employers Board. † Belfast Gas. In addition, the Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Personnel's policy planning and research unit carried out considerable evaluation work.