asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been awarded in grants by the Science and Engineering Research Council to (a) educational institutions and (b) others in Yorkshire and Humberside in each year since 1979; how much the council will disburse in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1987, c. 237]: The information requested is as follows:

SERC research grant expenditure in Yorkshire and Humberside
	Financial year	Gross expenditure £'000
	1979–80	3,021
	1980–81	3,891
	1981–82	4,320
	1982–83	4,480
	1983–84	5,633
	1984–85	6,486
	1985–86	6,494
	1986–87	17,818
1 Provisional outturn.

Expenditure in 1987–88 is expected to be at least £7·8 million. It is not possible to give a more precise figure at this stage. All expenditure on grants, for which the SERC is responsible, relates to education institutions.