§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she has taken to enhance science in her Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy Investing in Innovation. [162241]
§ Estelle MorrisThe Department for Culture, Media and Sport has responded to the science agenda outlined in "Investing in Innovation" in several ways since its publication in July 2002.
DCMS is the first department to take part in the cross-cutting review now being conducted by the Office for Science and Technology, which was advocated in the document. DCMS recognises that a number of its sponsored bodies, in particular the Natural History Museum and the Science Museums, have a key role to play in science education and can make major contributions to the Government's drive to improve further the quality of science teaching in schools and colleges, the scientific knowledge of young people entering the workforce, the image of science within society and the scientific understanding of the public generally.
In February 2003, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) which is sponsored by DCMS, received an additional 50 million bringing its endowment up to 250 million and an extra 45 million to use as revenue expenditure until 2006. NESTA now plans to spend over 20 million a year on UK creativity and innovation in science, technology and the arts.