§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent steps he has taken to strengthen the knowledge and skills of the United Kingdom in science and technology.
§ Mr. DunnMy right hon. Friend announced on 6 November that the recurrent grant to universities for 1987–88 will go up by £95 million compared with the grant for 1986–87, an increase of over 7 per cent. and that equipment grant will go up by £6.5 million, an increase of over 6 per cent. This extra money will allow the universities to continue as the main providers of basic scientific research. In addition the science budget for 1987–88 will be £39 million more than in 1986–87, an increase of 6.3 per cent. Since the Government took office in 1979 the science budget has increased by 10.6 per cent. over the rate of general inflation.
My right hon. Friend has also undertaken a number of measures to promote awareness of and competence in science, mathematics and technology across the whole 260W range of educational provision. For a description of these I refer my hon. Friend to the Department's written evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology on 4 June 1986 (House of Lords Minutes of Evidence (71-xiv) page 385).
My right hon. Friend's proposals to establish a network of city technical colleges are also designated to strengthen the teaching of science and technology throughout the school stytem.