§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps will be taken to ensure that research projects previously funded directly by his Department, whose funding is now to be channelled through the research446W councils, will not suffer a loss of income as a result; what steps will be taken to ensure that the total sums available for research will not decline in real terms as a result of this change; what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from universities and other academic institutions about this matter and what reply has been sent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SainsburyWhen joint grants are made by the Ministry of Defence and the research councils for academic research of relevance to defence, research council funding arrangements apply. The grants are separate from and additional to contracts and agreements made by the Ministry for defence-related research. Defence spending on R and D in the academic sector has shown a sustained increase in recent years.