§ Mr. Radiceasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the percentage increase in gross research and development expenditure in Britain in real terms since 1979; and what is the position of Britain in real terms compared with other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.
§ Mr. ButcherThe available information is given in the table.
Increase in gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) adjusted for changes in prices: 1983 compared with 1978 or 1979 for some OECD member countries Percentage increase in GERD United Kingdom 12.3 Australia 19.8 Canada 29.8 Finland 43.9 France 24.0 Germany 8.1 Iceland 14.0 Ireland 9.1 Italy 36.3 Japan 42.5 Netherlands 7.6 Norway 15.4 Spain 27.6 Sweden 38.4 Switzerland 0.4 United States 19.2 Source: OECD.
Note: Increases are over the four-year period 1979 to 1983, except for United Kingdom and Australia, the five-year period 1978 to 1983.