§ 17. Mr. CabornTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the cost of bringing scientific instruments for research in universities and polytechnics up to the current state of the art.
§ 42. Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision he has made for the re-equipment of research laboratories in universities and polytechnics following the survey by his Advisory Board for the Research Councils of their instrumentation needs.
Mr. JacksonThe Advisory Board for the Research Councils' recent survey found that over three quarters of respondents regarded their present research equipment as adequate or better. Universities and polytechnics estimated that £259 million worth of additional equipment was needed to support current research interests. Our latest expenditure plans allow for further increases in spending on equipment.
§ 70. Mr. McKelveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science who is responsible for the allocation of funds for research into different aspects of the global environment.
Mr. JacksonMy right hon. Friend allocates funds to the research councils to enable them to carry out programmes of research across a wide field, including global environmental research. It is for the research councils themselves to determine how to allocate the funds made available to them.