To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much expenditure from the public purse was spent on research in (a) astronomy and (b) space science for 2007-08; and how much is planned to be spent for 2008-09; and what records he holds on comparative expenditure in other OECD states. (205313)

The Government provide funding to the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to support research and related postgraduate training in particle physics, astronomy, space science, nuclear physics, synchrotron radiation, neutron sources and high power lasers. STFC’s expenditure on research in astronomy and space science is set out below. The Government do not hold records of comparative expenditure in other OECD states.