HC Deb 16 January 1989 vol 145 cc17-8W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the level of his Department's funding of the Natural Environment Research Council for each of the past 10 years in real terms at 1988–89 prices; if he will increase the planned level of funding for the 1989–90 financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson

The information for the past 10 years is as follows:

£ million 1988–89 prices
1979–80 68.3
1980–81 73.6
1981–82 77.8
1982–83 77.7
1983–84 78.9
1984–85 79.6
1985–86 78.5
1986–87 78.7
1987–88 77.9
1988–89 91.9

My right hon. Friend announced on 1 November 1988, at columns 605–10, that the Science Budget for 1989–90 would be £825 million and that he would be seeking the advice of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on the allocation of this amount. In answer to questions from my hon. Friends the Members for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) on 7 November 1988 at columns 2–3 and Derbyshire, West (Mr. McLoughlin) on 8 November 1988 at columns 134–35, my right hon. Friend has already announced that he has allocated in 1989–90 an additional £3 million for the British Geological Survey and an additional £10 million for the British Antarctic Survey. The ABRC advice is now being considered. We hope to announce the allocations to the individual councils (including NERC) shortly.