HC Deb 14 November 1989 vol 160 cc222-4W
42. Mr. George

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what powers he has to prevent research councils funding particular projects and programmes which they believe worthy of support within the financial resources available to them.

64. Mr. Morley

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what powers he has to give directions to research councils.

Mr. Jackson

Section 2 of the Science and Technology Act 1965 empowers my right hon. Friend to give mandatory directions to any of the research councils as regards the use and expenditure of funds provided from the Exchequer.

80. Mr. David Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which research councils are primarily responsible for research into the respective roles of the atmosphere, the oceans and the land in the global environment.

Mr. Jackson

Research into the global environment cannot be divided into the respective roles of the atmosphere, the oceans and the land because the interactions between these systems are crucial. The primary responsibility for such research rests with the Natural Environment Research Council. The Science and Engineering Research Council is involved in basic research and technology development in atmospheric and ocean science. The Agricultural and Food Research Council is concerned with land studies and the impact of global change. The Economic and Social Research Council and the Medical Research Council are also concerned with the impacts of global change.

91. Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met the Advisory Board for the Research Councils; and what was discussed.

Mr. Jackson

My right hon. Friend has had a number of meetings with the chairman of the ABRC, Sir David Phillips, most recently on 8 November. They have discussed a number of matters concerning the research councils, particularly their funding.

My right hon. Friend hopes to meet the full board within the next two months.