Written question asked by Brian H Donohoe (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 December 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 December 2004. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Monday, 20 December 2004 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the change in the level of the science budget has been since 1997 in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms. -Inc table and figures.

Answer: Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the change in the level of the science budget has been since 1997 in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms. [206294] Ms Hewitt: Between 1996-97 and 2004-05 the science budget will have risen by (a) £1.263 billion in cash terms and (b) 96 per cent. in total, in percentage terms. The following table sets out science expenditure since 1996-97, including planned spend in 2004-05. Following the Spending Review 2004 science budget expenditure is planned to rise to £3.282 billion by 2007-08. Science budget expenditure in cash terms 1996-97 to 2004-05 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Science budget (£ million) Increase on previous year (Percentage) Outturn 1996-97 1,312 -- 1997-98 1,331 1.4 1998-99 1,334 0.2 1999-2000 1,394 4.5 2000-01 1,514 8.6 2001-02 1,707 12.7 2002-03 2,032 19.0 2003-04 2,366 16.4 Plan 2004-05 2,575 8.8 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information