HC Deb 27 November 2003 vol 415 cc444-5W
Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what UK contributions at current prices have been made to the European Molecular Biology Organisation in(a) each of the last three years and (b) the current year; what contributions are proposed for the next three years; and what assessment she has made of the benefits the UK has gained from its contributions. [141753]

Ms Hewitt

The UK government, through grant-in-aid to the Medical Research Council (MRC), contributes to the European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC) which is the funding body for the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO). The UK's contributions for the last three years and the current year are as follows:

Euros
Year Actual contribution Contribution at

2003 prices

2000 1,224,222 1,291,063
2001 1,446,010 1,531,246
2002 1,502,628 1,531,246
2003 1,531,246 1,531,246

EMBC management is proposing an increase, over the next three years, of around 18 per cent. extra in 2004 rising to 44 per cent. extra in 2006 (about £700,000 per annum extra for the MRC). This is currently under discussion with EMBC and the UK contributions are not therefore known.

It is a matter for the MRC to decide/agree what level of subscription they should pay to EMBC, taking into account other commitments and priorities. They undertake periodic reviews of the relevant EMBO schemes in preparation for EMBC budget discussions. The main benefits of participation are association with, and access to, prestigious and well-run fellowships schemes that have added value to the development of the European molecular biology.