To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to enhance the quality of research in the higher education sector in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

We have asked the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales to work with the higher education institutions in Wales to raise the quality of research. We have made an additional £2·9 million available in 1993–94, to enable the council to make a start on the task and to assist the former public sector institutions to establish research departments.

I welcome my right hon. Friend's statement, but can he tell us the total amount available for research into higher education in Wales?

Yes, it is about £35 million, which is rather more than the higher education sector secured from the Universities Funding Council last year. I am sure that my hon. Friend will agree that it is vital for the future well-being of the Welsh economy that we should concentrate on research and innovation and seek to apply it from the higher education sector to industry and business in Wales.