§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many persons are employed in his Department's research and development programme; and how many there were in each year from 1979–80. [17631]
§ Mr. Douglas HoggSome figures have been published in the statistical supplement to the "Forward Look"—"Science, Engineering and Technology Statistics 1996, 325W issued as a separate document in May 1996"—reflecting the position since 1984–85. The entry for MAFF was as follows:
Total personnel engaged on R&D within MAFF (full-time equivalents)1 Year Number 1984–85 2,264 1985–86 2,062 1986–87 1,924 1987–88 1,919 1988–892 2,201 1989–90 1,801 1990–913 2,514 1991–92 2,420 1992–93 2,512 1993–94 2,529 1994–95 2,497 1 This table refers to personnel engaged in R&D, according to the Frascati definition. Figures for personnel quoted in the departmental reports may include those engaged in other forms of science and technology. 2 Staff at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, included form 1998–99. 3 Staff at non-departmental public bodies included from 1990–91. These figures cover, in the main, staff directly involved in research at the Ministry's agencies, plus Horticulture Research International and Kew. However, the Department does not keep statistical information on the large numbers of headquarters staff involved in the development of research to meet policy needs and its commissioning, monitoring and evaluation. Nor has it figures for the numbers of personnel working for external contractors who carry out MAFF-funded research. This latter group includes public sector research establishments—such as the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and Natural Environment Research Council research institutes—universities and other private contractors.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his Department's total research and development expenditure was in each year from 1979 to the present in(a) cash and (b) constant prices. [17632]
§ Mr. HoggMy Department's total research and development expenditure for each year from 1981–82 in cash and constant prices is set out in the following table.
326W
£ million Year Cash Constant prices1 1981–82 106.8 211.2 1982–83 113.9 210.2 1983–84 118.6 209.2 1984–85 119.4 200.5 1985–86 118.4 188.5 1986–87 118.3 182.8 1987–88 113.8 167.0 1988–89 115.0 158.2 1989–90 112.2 144.2 1990–91 119.1 141.8 1991–92 121.5 135.9 1992–93 132.9 142.7 1993–94 135.0 140.9 1994–95 137.2 140.7 1995–96 139.7 139.7 1996–972 137.6 134.2 1 Using the GDP deflator (1995–96 =100). 2 Provisional. Figures for 1979–80 and 1980–81 are not available.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many commissions his Department placed with the Agriculture and Food Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council in each year from 1979 to the present; how many such commissions he expects to place this year; and what was the value of those commissions in(a) cash and (b) constant prices. [17656]
§ Mr. HoggMy Department issued a single commission each year up to 1994–95 for its R and D requirements from the institutes of the Agriculture and Food Research Council and its successor, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. In 1995–96, the commission was replaced with umbrella contracts with each of the BBSRC institutes. Details of the total amounts spent in cash and constant prices are set out. In addition to funding through the commissions and umbrella contracts, MAFF has funded research with the BBSRC institutes through separate contracts, the majority of which have been let by competition since 1994–95.
£ million Year Cash Constant Prices1 1979–80 30.4 78.0 1980–81 37.4 81.1 1981–82 44.3 87.6 1982–83 48.6 89.7 1983–84 51.3 90.5 1984–85 52.8 88.7 1985–86 51.8 82.5 1986–87 47.9 74.0 1987–88 44.2 64.9 1988–89 46.4 63.8 1989–90 46.0 59.1 1990–91 45.6 54.3 1991–92 34.5 38.6 1992–93 34.8 37.4 1993–94 36.0 37.6 1994–95 34.6 35.5 1995–96 34.7 34.7 1996–972 29.3 28.6 1 Using the GDP deflator (1995–96 = 100). 2 Provisional.