To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the funding given by her Department towards CERN in each year since 1992, in real terms. [7591]

The cost to the Science Budget of the CERN subscription in each calendar year from 1992 is as follows (in real terms, at 1997–98 prices):

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the projected funding for CERN in the next financial year. [7594]

The UK contribution to CERN for 1998 in Swiss Francs will not be known until December 1997 and the cost in sterling will depend on exchange rates at the time the currency is bought. However, PPARC has made provision of £58.27 million for CERN contributions within its allocation for the 1998–99 financial year.