HC Deb 24 November 1987 vol 123 cc153-5W
Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish figures on(a) Government and (b) private sector spending on research and development as a percentage of gross domestic product since;1980 by sector; and what information he has on comparable figures in other Group of Seven countries.

Mr. Butcher

The available information is given in the table:

Expenditure on research and development as a percentage of GDP
Per cent.
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986
United Kingdom
Financed by public sources .. 12 .. 1.1 .. 1.0 ..
Other sources .. 1.2 .. 1.1 .. 1.3 ..
Canada
Financed by public sources 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7
Other sources 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.7
France
Financed by public sources 0.9 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 ..
Other sources 0.9 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1 ..
Germany
Financed by public sources .. 1.0 1.0 1.0 .. 1.0 ..
Other sources .. 1.5 1.5 1.5 .. 1.7 ..
Italy
Financed by public sources 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.7 ..
Other sources 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 ..
Japan
Financed by public sources 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 ..
Other sources 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.1 ..
United States
Financed by public sources 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4
Other sources 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4
.. Data not available.
"Other sources" include industry (including state-owned industries), the universities and other higher education, and the private non-profit agencies.

Source: OECD.