Research Expenditure

Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current level of research expenditure for the Universities Funding Council; and what is the projected expenditure for the next three years.

Mr. Alan Howarth
The Universities Funding Council allocated £680 million on research-based criteria to universities in academic year 1991–92. This sum was not hypothecated for research. The council has allowed each institution to determine its own spending on teaching and research within the aggregate funds available to it from all sources. The level of funding is determined on an annual basis. The UFC's allocation for 1992–93 announced today represents an underlying increase of over 11 per cent. above the level for 1991–92.

Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the budget for----------------
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|AFRC—cash     |
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|1992–93 prices|
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|ESRC—cash     |
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|1992–93 prices|
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|M RC-cash     |
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|1992–93 prices|
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|NERC—cash     |
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|1992–93 prices|
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|SERC—cash     |
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|1992–93 prices|
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|AFRC—cash     |
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|1992–93 prices|
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|ESRC—cash     |
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|1992–93 prices|
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|MRC—cash      |
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|1992–93 prices|
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|NERC—cash     |
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|1992–93 prices|
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|SERC—cash     |
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|1992–93 prices|
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Note:

The 1992–93 figures were announced to the House on 16 December 1991 ( Official Report, columns 33–35). They exclude the amounts in respect of dual support transfers totaling £48 million.

In addition to the grant in aid from this Department, the councils also receive substantial income from other sources.

research of the Universities Funding Council and its predecessor body in real and constant price terms since 1979.

Mr. Alan Howarth
Neither the Universities Funding Council—UFC—nor its predecessor, the University Grants Committee—UGC—has hypothecated funding for research. Each institution has been free to determine its own spending on teaching and research within the aggregate funds available to it from all sources. Estimates of UFC-funded spending on research are set out in the "Annual Review of Government Funded Research and Development", copies of which arc in the Library. Estimated spending on scientific research funded by the UGC and UFC respectively increased by 9 per cent in real terms between 1979–80 and 1989–90.

Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the budget in real and constant price terms of each of the research councils since 1979.

Mr. Alan Howarth
Details of the grants in aid to the research councils since 1979–80 from this Department, in both cash terms and at 1992–93 prices are as follows.