HC Deb 02 July 1987 vol 118 cc164-6W
Mr. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list Ministry of Defence research contracts currently placed with United Kingdom universities and other institutions of higher education.

Mr. Sainsbury

The defence research establishments have currently 742 research agreements and 68 contracts with a wide range of United Kingdom universities and other institutions. It is not our policy to publish details of these arrangements.

Mr. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Aircraft Establishment has any research agreements or contracts with any universities or other institutes of higher education in the United Kingdom or abroad.

Mr. Sainsbury

The Royal Aircraft Establishment has currently 226 research agreements or contracts with United Kingdom universities and other institutes of higher education. There are currently no such agreements or contracts with institutions abroad.

Mr. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment has any research agreements or contracts with any universities or other institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom or abroad.

Mr. Sainsbury

The Royal Signals and Radar Establishment has currently 77 research agreements or contracts with United Kingdom universities and other institutes of higher education. There are currently no such agreements with institutions abroad.

Mr. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston has any research contracts or agreements with any universities or other institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom or abroad.

Mr. Sainsbury

The Atomic Weapons Research Establishment has currently 30 research contracts or agreements with universities and other institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom. There are currently no such contracts or agreements with institutions abroad.

Mr. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Aircraft Establishment at Boscombe Down, (b) The Royal Armament Research Development Establishment, (c) the Admiralty Research Establishment, (d) the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down, (e) the Royal Ordnance factory at Burghfield and (f) the Royal Ordnance factory at Llanishen have any research contracts or agreements with universities or other institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom or overseas.

Mr. Sainsbury

The establishments concerned currently have the following research agreements or contracts:

Number
A& AEE Nil
RARDE 123
ARE 115
CDE 73
ROF Burghfield Nil
ROF Cardiff Nil

There are currently no such agreements or contracts with institutions abroad.

Mr. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many research projects in universities and other institutions of higher education have been funded under the Joint Research Council — Ministry of Defence research grants scheme in each year since the inception of the scheme.

Mr. Sainsbury

Numbers of research agreements approved for funding under the joint Research Council/MOD research grants scheme, by financial year, are as follows:

Number
1986–87 63
1987–88 (April-June) 19

Mr. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which United Kingdom universities or other institutions of higher education have received research contracts under the United States strategic defence initiative programme.

Mr. Sainsbury

It is for those universities or other institutions of higher education who hold such contracts to decide whether to divulge such information publicly.