§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the eligibility criteria for awarding grants under the challenge fund for science equipment announced in the Budget; and if she will make a statement. [9886]
§ Mr. ForthIt is for the Higher Education Funding Council for England to decide on the detailed criteria for its 1997–98 research equipment initiative. The council intends to finalise the criteria before the end of the current financial year, and details will be placed in the Library. The 1996 Budget letter to the council made clear, however, that the £20 million grant earmarked for research equipment would be expected to generate matching private funds from industry and other users of research.