§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will indicate the likely spending on the following items within the new science budget planning total of £696 million for 1988–89:(a) research in Antarctica, (b) a new research ship for Antarctica, (c) inter-disciplinary research centres, (d) the strategic reshaping of the science base and (e) a Medical Research Council special programme of research on AIDS.
Mr. JacksonDetailed decisions on the allocation of the science budget for 1988–89 will be taken later in the year in the light of advice from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils. However, the increased funding for that year announced by my right hon. Friend on 3 November included special provision of £8.6 million for additional research in Antarctica and a new research ship, and of £6 million for the M RC's programmes of AIDS research.