HC Deb 16 July 1990 vol 176 cc443-6W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will publish a list of research contracts and agreements in universities and polytechnics funded by his Department which are not classified secret;

(2) what contracts have been placed with universities and other institutions of higher education for research on zirconium and zirconium films since 1983;

(3) if he will publish in the Official Report (a) a list of the five universities which were awarded the highest number of research and development contracts in the last financial year, (b) the number of contracts and agreements which each of these universities received and (c) the total worth of these contracts for each of the five universities;

(4) if he will list the universities and polytechnics in Britain where his Department is currently funding research and development contracts and agreements.

Mr. Neubert

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms. Primarolo) on 8 February at column774.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how his Department intends to reduce its spending on defence research and development;

(2) if he has any plans to reduce the amount of money his Department spends on research and development in (a) universities and polytechnics and (b) industry.

Mr. Neubert

The Government have announced their intention gradually to reduce the real level of their spending on defence research and development, while recognising there must be sufficient activity for defence needs. This will involve looking very carefully at what is available off the shelf and at the opportunities for international collaboration before embarking on major new development programmes. Within the total, spending in industry and the universities will depend on the requirements of the programme.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many research and development contracts and agreements in universities and polytechnics are currently being funded by the Admiralty Research Establishment; how many universities and polytechnics currently hold contracts and agreements funded by the Admiralty Research Establishment; and what is the total worth of these contracts and agreements;

(2) how many research and development contracts and agreements in universities and polytechnics are currently being funded by the Royal Aircraft Establishment; and what is the total worth of these contracts and agreements;

(3) how many research and development contracts and agreements in universities and polytechnics are currently being funded by the Atomic Weapons Establishment; how many universities and polytechnics currently hold contracts and agreements funded by the Atomic Weapons Establishment; and what is the total value of these contracts and agreements;

(4) how many research and development contracts and agreements in universities and polytechnics are currently being funded by the Chemical Defence Establishment; how many universities and polytechnics currently hold contracts and agreements funded by the Chemical Defence Establishment; and what is the total value of these contracts and agreements;

(5) how many research and development contracts and agreements in universities and polytechnics are currently being funded by the Royal Armaments Research and Development Establishment; how many universities and polytechnics currently hold contracts and agreements funded by the Royal Armaments Research and Development Establishment; and what is the total value of these contracts and agreements;

(6) how many research and development contracts and agreements in universities and polytechnics are currently being funded by the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment; how many universities and polytechnics currently hold contracts and agreements funded by the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment; and what is the total value of these contracts and agreements;

(7) how many research and development contracts and agreements in universities and polytechnics are currently being funded by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment; how many universities and polytechnics currently hold contracts and agreements funded by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment; and what is the total value of these contracts and agreements.

Mr. Neubert

The information requested on research agreements funded by A&AEE, ARE, AWE, CDE, RAE, RARDE and RSRE is as follows:

Funding establishment Number of current agreements Total value £ million Number of universities and polytechnics
A&AEE 0 0.0 0
ARE 113 8.8 40
AWE 0 0.0 0
CDE 64 7.9 33
RAE 188 16.6 43
RARDE 153 13.0 47
RSRE 101 9.7 40
TOTAL 619 56.0 203

The Ministry of Defence currently has some 143 research and development contracts with universities and polytechnics. The total value of these is some £5.1 million. It is not possible to provide the information on research and development contracts at each establishment without incurring disproportionate expense.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Chemical Defence Establishment is funding research in universities and other institutions of higher education on various aspects of verification technology.

Mr. Neubert

As part of the United Kingdom's support for the negotiations in Geneva for a comprehensive, global and verifiable chemical weapons convention, the Chemical Defence Establishment, together with other departments concerned, is undertaking work on various aspects of verification technology, supported by extramural contracts with universities and polytechnics as appropriate.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the positive results from his Department's funding of research and development in universities and polytechnics since 1979.

Mr. Neubert

This work has played an important role in support of the defence research programme and has provided good value for money. It is not possible to list individual benefits without incurring disproportionate expense.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons his Department has increased its spending on research and development in universities and polytechnics since 1984.

Mr. Neubert

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms. Primarolo) on 8 February 1990 at column775.