asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Government spent on research and development in 1986; and what proportion this represented of total Government expenditure.

Details of Government spending on research and development are contained in the 1986 annual review of Government-funded research and development which is published by HMSO. The information is available for financial years only and the estimated outturn for 1985–86 for total Government spending on research and development is £4,582·1 million which represents about 4·6 per cent. of central Government expenditure.