Research Expenditure

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the sums spent in the last convenient year on research in the following areas, namely, science, medicine, agriculture, the natural environment, and social science by respectively:

(a) the relevant Research Council;

(b) Ministers other than the Secretary of State for Education and Science (distinguishing between in-house research and contract research);

(c) universities (distinguishing between research funded by the Government whether ad hoc or through the University Grants Committee, research funded by the university itself, research funded by industry, research funded by charitable organisations);

(d) in-house research conducted by industry.

Information is not available in the precise form requested in the Question. Such information as is available is set out below; the figures relate to total sums expended on research and development in the United Kingdom in 1968–69:

Expenditure by:	£ thousand
Science Research Council	36,268
Medical Research Council	15,757
Agricultural Research Council	13,898
National Environment Research Council	9,226
Social Science Research Council	734
Total	75,883

(Research Council support for postgraduate training has been excluded. The corresponding Estimates for 1971–72 are published in

A Framework for Government Research and Development (Cmnd. 4814)).

Information for 1968–69 on research and development expenditure by sector is set out in the following table. This

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT IN EACH SECTOR ACCORDING TO SOURCE OF FINANCE
1968–69 (Provisional figures)
							United Kingdom £ thousand
	Sector carrying out the work
	Government	Universities and further education establishments	Public Corporations	Research Associations	Private Industry	Other	Total amount financed by each sector
		(2)
Sector providing the funds	(3)	(4)				(5)	(3) (4)
Government	222,401	69,007	152	4,627	203,959	13,996	514,142
Universities	—	6,400	—	—	—	—(5)	6,400
	(6)					(5)
Public corporations	—	401	39,711	917	4,333	193	45,555
	(6)					(5)
Research associations	—	—	—	213	286	27	526
						(5)
Private industry	14,464	3,433	211	7,487	363,503	7,050	396,148
Overseas	5,378	1,500	854	1,211	27,041	523	36,507
Other	6,964	3,506	30	—	2,783	4,014	17,297
Total cost of research and development carried out in each sector	249,207	84,247	40,958	14,455	601,905	25,803	1,016,575
(1) Except where otherwise stated, figures based on returns from the sectors carrying out the work.
(2) Academic year 1967–68.
(3) Including £358,000 spent by local authorities.
(4) Including £1,858,000 financed by local government.
(5) Figure based on returns from sector providing the funds.
(6) Included in private industry.

Further information is available from published sources, including the Memorandum by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in respect of the Estimates 1971–72, at Table VII; Statistics of Science and Technology 1970, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office for the Department of Education and Science and

information is provisional and has not previously been published:

Ministry of Technology; and Economic Trends, No. 205 for November 1970, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office for the Central Statistical Office.

House adjourned at twenty-three minutes past ten o'clock.

Volume 327: debated on Wednesday 2 February 1972