HC Deb 22 January 1985 vol 71 cc378-9W
30. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement giving conveniently approximate figures as to how many alpha research projects were rejected in 1984 by (a) the Science and Engineering Research Council and (b) the Medical Research Council.

Mr. Brooke

The number of applications graded alpha but rejected by SERC's boards in the academic year 1983–84 was:

number
Science 324
Engineering (less Biotechnology Directorate) 129
Astronomy, Space and Radio 44
TOTAL 497

The Nuclear Physics Board and the Biotechnology Directorate of the Engineering Board do not grade applications as the majority of their grants expenditure supports rolling programmes of which grants form integral parts. Numbers of rejections considered to be of alpha quality therefore cannot be given in respect of these parts of SERC.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 14 November 1984 at column 238 about MRC projects.