HC Deb 28 June 1989 vol 155 c487W
38. Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make it his policy to increase his Department's sponsorship of environmental research projects with particular reference to all matters of public interest for which his Department has some responsibility.

Mr. Ridley

The scale of my Department's expenditure on environmental research is assessed on the needs to inform decisions, guide policy, and monitor the achievement of environmental goals. It is planned to increase from £31.5 million in 1988–89 to £35.8 million in this financial year.