§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the level of financing of the Medical Research Council.
§ Mr. BrookeThe information which follows supplements my answer of 14 February to the hon. Member's earlier question on this subject, at column 221.
The level of financing of the Medical Research Council for the years 1981–82 to 1987–88 is set out in the table which shows (i) the Medical Research Council's grant-in-aid for the years 1981–82 to 1985–86 and the amounts provisionaly recommended by the Advisory Board for the Research Councils for 1986–87 and 1987–88, in cash terms; and (ii) the Medical Research Council's grant-in-aid expressed as a percentage of the science budget.
MRC's grant in aid Science budget Cash terms £ million Cash terms £ million MRC Per cent. 1981–82 101.7 451 22 1982–83 107.5 482 22 1983–84 113.7 516 22 1984–85 117.2 550 21 1985–86 (estimated) 122.3 584 21 1986–87 (provisional)* 125.0 599 21 1987–88 (provisional)* 128.3 613 21 * Subject to revised advice by the ABRC later in 1985 (for 1986–87) and in 1986 (for 1987–88).