Skip to main content

Science And Technology

Volume 939: debated on Monday 21 November 1977

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total sum expended from his Department's Vote upon science and technology; in what ways it is allocated; and how he ensures that such sums are spent wisely.

The main bulk of my Department's expenditure on science and technology is made under the Science and Technology Act and the Civil Aviation Act 1949. Net expenditure under these Acts is expected to total £122·3 million in 1977–78, and is allocated as follows:

INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION
General Industrial Research and Development Class IV Vote 3
£ million
Industrial Research Establishments and Computer Aided Design Centre18·1
Industrial Research and Development Contracts, Grants and Other Support22·2
Technological and Industrial Sponsorship Class IV Vote 4
Industrial support and development contracts and software development scheme9·5
Aerospace—Class IV Vote 5
Aircraft and Aeroengine projects and assistance
Aircraft and aeroengine general research and development programme15·6
Development of the Concorde Aircraft23·1
Development of RB 211 engines-1·5
Other civil aircraft and engine projects2·8
Space
National Space Technology Programme3·3
International Space Programmes29·2
Further detail is available in Supply Estimates 1977–78 Class IV.
Some additional expenditure for technological development is included in the provision for the various industry schemes under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972.In deciding the allocation and utilisation of funds, I have the advice of various bodies including research and development requirements boards, the Joint Research Committee, the Joint Space Group, the Aeronautical Research Council and the Joint Committee for Avionics Systems Research. These bodies include representatives from industry to ensure that the programmes supported are directed towards industrial needs.
INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
All industriesManufacturing industries
Index 1970=100Percentage change from previous yearIndex 1970=100Percentage change from previous year
1945
1946
1947
194850·547·8
194953·8+6·551·3+7·3
195057·1+6·155·2+7·6
195158·4+2·356·8+2·9
195256·6-3·154·0-4·9
195360·2+6·457·8+7·0
195463·3+5·161·0+5·5
195566·4+4·964·8+6·2
195666·9+0·864·7-0·2
195768·1+1·866·2+2·3
195867·5-0·965·5-1·1
195970·9+5·069·3+5·8
196075·8+6·974·9+8·1
196176·7+1·275·0+0·1
196277·4+0·975·2+0·3
196379·7+3·077·9+3·6
196486·5+8·585·1+9·2
196589·1+3·087·6+2·9
196690·6+1·789·2+1·8
196791·7+1·289·8+0·7
196897·2+6·096·0+6·9
196999·9+2·899·6+3·8
1970100·0+0·1100·0+0·4
1971100·3+0·399·4-0·6
1972102·5+2·2102·0+2·6
1973109·9+7·2110·5+8·3
1974106·9-2·7108·8-1·5
1975101·6-5·0102·3-6·0
1976102·2+0·6103·4+1·1
… equals not available.

Source:

1948–67 Economic Trends, November 1973.

1968–72 Monthly Digest of Statistics, October 1977.

1973–76 Latest CSO estimates.