HL Deb 26 January 2005 vol 668 cc160-1WA
Baroness Perry of Southwark

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much they have spent on applied construction research in each of the past 10 years for which figures are available. [HL744]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

There are no consolidated figures available on applied construction research spend across the government. The largest single sponsor of applied construction research remains the DTI, augmented by research underpinning building regulation undertaken by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Figures available—1997 to date:
DETR
Year £ Million
1997–98 £24 million
1998–99 £22 million
1999–2000 £22 million
2000–01 £21.1 million

Construction responsibility moved to the DTI in June 2001 with DTLR/ODPM retaining the building regulations research programme.

Combined DTI/ODPM spend for the last three full financial years are:

Year £ Million
2001-02 £19.4 million
2002-03 £19.4 million
2003-04 £15.7 million

The reduced government funding in 2003–04 reflects a reduced DTI commitment under the framework agreement with the Building Research Establishment, under which the Government guaranteed the BRE research activity for the first five years of its operation in the private sector.