Written question asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Wilcox (Conservative) on Monday, 18 October 2010.

Science and Technology

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of United Kingdom science on the United Kingdom economy in each of the past five years.

Answer: Her Majesty's Government have provided regular assessments of the impact of the science on the United Kingdom economy through its annual reports on the Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-14. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has published the Economic Impact Reporting Framework in each of the past five years. Research councils have separately, for the past three years, published their economic baselines in each of the past three years. There is a wide range of historical and econometric evidence that supports the view that science, and R&D more generally, are central to productivity growth. Precise estimates should be treated with caution because of the complex methodological and data issues involved.

Secondary information