HC Deb 04 February 1986 vol 91 c115W
71. Mr. Hirst

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the current level of research council's funding of alpha-rated research projects in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Walden

Details of funded and unfunded alpha grants in 1980–81 to 1984–85 were given in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Hirst) on 20 January at columns 79–80. My right hon. Friend announced increases to the science budget in 1985–86 and 1986–87 in the relevant public expenditure statements, and indicated that he hoped that a proportion of the additional funds would enable the councils to fund further high quality proposals from the universities.