To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his Department’s budget for scientific advice and research is in 2008-09; for what purposes the equivalent budget for 2007-08 was used; and how many people employed in his Department have a science or engineering degree. (260773)

The DCSF does not commission scientific research and advice. We do commission social and economic research and analysis in order to provide evidence to support policy-making activity across the full range of the Department’s responsibilities according to need. Our current forecast is that we will spend £31 million on social and economic research and analysis in 2008-09. In 2007-08, the figure was £27 million. We do not collect information on staff with a science or engineering degree centrally.