§ Mr. VazTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the Government's policy in respect of scientific and medical research. [1482]
§ Mr. BattleThe Government are committed to a strong science and engineering base and to the maintenance of its international position of excellence, as an essential underpinning resource both to our national economic future and to the quality of life. Research and development and the exploitation of its results will provide the answer to many of the problems faced by society: in health; in social issues; and in the environment. Medical research has a key role in that. Government have a crucial role to play as prime funder of curiosity-driven science, with its proven record of stimulating new innovations and enhancing our quality of life: and as facilitator and co-ordinator to ensure that the efforts of those engaged in scientific research are properly encouraged and developed in the nation's best interests Business has a responsibility for driving the research and development of new and improved products and services. We shall be seeking to:
- use science and technology to improve our quality of life;
- encourage new ideas and innovation to the market;
- strengthen the voice of science in Government; and
- end the bias against science in our culture.
We are committed to re-invigorating the science and engineering base and will be developing policy in the light of the report of the Dearing inquiry into higher education. I shall also be working with business and with colleagues across Government to sustain the health of science, engineering and technology in the UK, to maximise its contribution to economic competitiveness and the quality of life and to improve the way that science is used across Government to inform policy.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals she has to promote further co-operation with the European Union in the field of scientific and medical research. [1484]
§ Mr. BattleThe Government attach great importance to co-operation with other members of the European Union in the field of scientific research. UK participants play an active role in the EU's Fourth Framework Programme (FP4) for Research and Technological Development which covers a wide range of scientific, technological and medical research. Negotiations concerning the content and organisation of the EU's Fifth Framework Programme, due to start in 1999, have recently begun. The UK has already played, and will continue to play, an active role in the shaping of this 275W future programme, to ensure that UK researchers and technologists have every opportunity to build upon their current, successful levels of participation.
Medical research is well provided for in the Commission proposals for FP5, particularly in the programme "Unlocking the Resources of the Living World", which is specifically aimed at improving the quality of life and for example, includes research: on the control of viral and other infectious diseases; the development of new antibiotics and anti-cancer agents; and the health effects of pollution.