HC Deb 07 December 1988 vol 143 c170W
34. Dr. Bray

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimates he has made of the growth of the contract industrial research market in the United Kingdom and worldwide.

Mr. Forth

Figures published in the 1988 annual review of Government-funded research and development show a rising trend of expenditure on extramural contract research and development by United Kingdom industry. In 1985 the figure was £332 million rising from £464 million in 1986. Independent forecasts suggest that this trend is likely to continue and that contract research and development expenditure is growing faster than intramural expenditure, the latter growing appoximately in line with GDP. There are no published worldwide figures.