HC Deb 13 March 1992 vol 205 c779W
Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total of his Department's funded research each year since 1979 in cash terms, real terms on 1979, and as a percentage decrease or increase on the previous year.

Mr. Leigh

Figures are available from 1981–82 to 1989–90 only, as shown below. They are subject to qualification. Their composition has been altered by changes in the structure of government and transfer to the private sector of public corporations for which my Department was formerly responsible, and from 1987 expenditure of up to £50 million per annum was re-classified to other budgets. Real terms figures are readily available only to a 1989–90 base.

DTI expenditure on R&D
£ million
Year cash terms real terms 1
1981–82 284.9 440.6
1982–83 284.0 410.1
1983–84 313.1 432.1
1984–85 346.7 455–3
1985–86 374.4 466.4
1986–87 362.9 436.9
1987–88 324.4 370.8
1988–89 314.4 334.4
1989–90 310.0 310.0
1 base year 1989–90

Source: Cabinet Office Annual Review of Government Funded R&D 1991, published by HMSO.