HC Deb 04 December 1985 vol 88 cc224-5W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what factors he took into account when he decided to allocate the sum of £15 million a year for scientific research over the next three years.

Mr. Walden

My right hon. Friend decided to allocate an additional £15 million a year to the science budget to assist the research councils to follow up promising new developments in a variety of scientific fields and so provide more opportunities for talented scientists to pursue research in this country. The allocation of the additional money between the research councils and other bodies grant-aided from the science budget will be determined following advice from the advisory board for the research councils.