§ 27. Mr. Bowen Wellsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current and proposed level of funding for science; and how the money will be distributed.
§ Mr. WaldenThe science budget, from which the research councils receive their grant-in-aid, will be £615 million in 1986–87 and is planned to be £629 million and £645 million in 1987–88 and 1988–89, respectively. My right hon. Friend is advised on the distribution on this budget by the Advisory Board for the Research Councils and the board's advice, which he has accepted, is available in the Library of the House. Scientific research is also supported through block grants to universities through the University Grants Committee, the distribution of which within universities is a matter for individual universities. The total amount spent on scientific research through the UGC is difficult to determine accurately, because it depends on an estimate of the distribution of universities' resources among different functions, but it is estimated that it amounts to approximately £600 million per annum.