§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was his assessment of the validity of the European Commission's calculation that Euro-Science needs at least 7.7 billion ecu over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI have been asked to reply.
I represent Her Majesty's Government at the Council of Ministers (Research). Having given full consideration to the European Commission's proposal, the Research Council agreed on 15 December to a total budget of 5.7 becu (£4.2 billion) for a new framework programme for research and technological development, from 1990 to 1994 (I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave on 17 January, Hansard column 318 and 24 January, Hansard column 699).
As I said in my answer of 17 January, we consider that this was a very satisfactory outcome.