§ 30. Dr. ReidTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent examination he has made of the adequacy of funding of social sciences in the United Kingdom.
Mr. JacksonThe social sciences are mostly funded through the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the recurrent grant distributed to the universities by the University Grants Committee. The Advisory Board for the Research Councils each year considers the research proposals and funding needs of the ESRC as part of the preparation of advice on the allocation of the science budget. In allocating funds to universities the UGC takes into account planned student numbers in the social sciences, as in other subjects. The committee is currently reviewing national provision for sociology and social policy as part of its programme of subject reviews. Given these arrangements, my right hon. Friend has not thought it necessary to make any additional examination of the funding of the social sciences.