HC Deb 08 November 1988 vol 140 cc116-7W
7. Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has instructed the Natural Environment Research Council to increase its planned future expenditure on environmental research since 27 September.

Mr. Jackson

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross).

60. Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to increase spending in higher education on research into environmental issues; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson

The main elements of public funding for higher education institutions' research on environmental issues are general grants from the University Grants Committee (shortly to be succeeded by the Universities Funding Council) and grants for specific research projects from the Natural Environment Research Council. My right hon. Friend is seeking advice from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on the distribution between scientific fields of the substantial extra funds for science he announced on 1 November at column605.