To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the level of Government funding support for science centres was in each of the last five years; and what total support is expected to be given (a) in 2007-08 and (b) up to 2010. (144106)

Government funding for science centres over the last five years is shown in the following table:

These figures include:

DTI funding of £93,000 from a total of £150,000 paid between 2001 and 2004, to Ecsite UK, an umbrella body for science centres, to help it become established and become financially sustainable.

£2 million, from DTI and DfES, between 2004 and 2006 to certain centres which were assessed as likely to become financially viable with the short term funding.

(a) Funding for 2007-08 will include £450,000 as a part of £750,000 project ran by Ecsite UK (between November 2006 and March 2008) to help the science centres achieve financial sustainability and £33,000 funding for Ecsite-UK.

(b) The Government have provided this short-term funding on the basis that science centres should be self- sustaining thereafter.