§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the Medical Research Council's annual expenditure during the last five years in Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, respectively, on (a) research units, including the Medical Research Council, pneumoconiosis and epidemiology units (b) programme grants and (c) project grants.
§ Mr. BrookeThe information requested is as follows, though figures are not available for programme and project grants separately:
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(a) Research units (including MRC's pneumoconiosis unit and epidemiology unit (both located in South Wales) and MRC's external scientific staff team) Financial year England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland 1979–80 36.2 4.2 1.1 — 1980–81 44.6 5.3 1.2 —
Financial year England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland 1981–82 50.2 7.9 1.5 — 1982–83 53.2 7.1 1.5 — 1983–84 55.6 7.0 1.5 —
(b) Programme grants and project grants (includes research groups, special grants to institutions and special project grants) Financial year England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland 1979–80 18.0 2.7 0.5 0.1 1980–81 24.8 3.6 0.7 0.1 1981–82 27.6 4.0 0.5 0.1 1982–83 29.9 3.3 0.4 0.2 1983–84 32.7 3.7 0.6 0.2
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the numbers of people employed by the Medical Research Council in Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland; and how these compare with the corresponding figures five years previously.
§ Mr. BrookeThe numbers of staff employed by the Medical Research Council in England, Scotland and Wales on 1 June 1984, together with the corresponding numbers on 1 October 1979, are as follows. The council does not have any units in Northern Ireland.
1 June 1984 1 October 1979 England* 3,190 3,311 Scotland 392 380 Wales 83 97 Total 3,665 3,788 * Includes MRC headquarters staff.
§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with initiatives undertaken by the Medical Research Council.
§ Mr. BrookeWithin the purposes set out in its Royal Charter, and taking account of any recommendations made by the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on scientific priorities and direction, the Medical Research Council is effectively free to decide on its scientific priorities and on what initiatives it should take within the total cash sums allocated to it by my right hon. Friend.