To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of students graduated from university with a degree in (a) chemistry, (b) mathematics, (c) physics and (d) engineering in (i) 1990, (ii) 1997, (iii) 2003 and (iv) the last year for which figures...

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of students graduated from university with a degree in (a) chemistry, (b) mathematics, (c) physics and (d) engineering in (i) 1990, (ii) 1997, (iii) 2003 and (iv) the last year for which figures...

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of Building Schools for the Future funding has been spent on laboratories for practical science in each of the last four years; and whether he has plans to prioritise school science in the next Building Schools for...

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of Building Schools for the Future funding has been spent on laboratories for practical science in each of the last four years; and whether he has plans to prioritise school science in the next Building Schools for...

I accept what the hon. Gentleman says—there is probably a systemic problem. The Department might have been good at administering expansion, but it is not good at administering contraction. There does not appear to be a rational, systematic way of making choices, which goes to the heart of what I...

I accept what the hon. Gentleman says—there is probably a systemic problem. The Department might have been good at administering expansion, but it is not good at administering contraction. There does not appear to be a rational, systematic way of making choices, which goes to the heart of what I...

Let me begin by congratulating the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on securing the debate, and thanking him for the manner in which he made his contribution. He is known to the general public as his party's Treasury spokesman, and once again he has demonstrated his sound grasp of...

Let me begin by congratulating the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on securing the debate, and thanking him for the manner in which he made his contribution. He is known to the general public as his party's Treasury spokesman, and once again he has demonstrated his sound grasp of...

It is a privilege to have the opportunity to introduce this short debate on science funding. The matter has come to light in the past week with the announcement that the Government will try to trim £600 million from their budget for higher education and science. I am sure that...

It is a privilege to have the opportunity to introduce this short debate on science funding. The matter has come to light in the past week with the announcement that the Government will try to trim £600 million from their budget for higher education and science. I am sure that...

Some of my constituents work at the National Physical Laboratory, and there are a number of important scientific establishments in my constituency, which is why I am interested in the points raised by the hon. Gentleman. Does he agree that the science budget has not been well handled for a...

Some of my constituents work at the National Physical Laboratory, and there are a number of important scientific establishments in my constituency, which is why I am interested in the points raised by the hon. Gentleman. Does he agree that the science budget has not been well handled for a...

Westminster hall adjournment debate on government science priorities.

Westminster hall adjournment debate on government science priorities.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration the research councils have given to points raised by Professor Peter Lawrence in PLoS Biology 7(9); and whether they plan to implement the recommendations described therein to "restore science to its rightful place".

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration the research councils have given to points raised by Professor Peter Lawrence in PLoS Biology 7(9); and whether they plan to implement the recommendations described therein to "restore science to its rightful place".

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) chemistry, (b) biology and (c) physics initial teacher training entrants were recruited by the Training and Development Agency for Schools in (i) 2004, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) chemistry, (b) biology and (c) physics initial teacher training entrants were recruited by the Training and Development Agency for Schools in (i) 2004, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2008.

Moved By To call attention to the Royal Society report Reaping the Benefits and the contribution to be made by British agriculture; and to move for Papers.

Moved By To call attention to the Royal Society report Reaping the Benefits and the contribution to be made by British agriculture; and to move for Papers.

Lords debate on motion to call attention to the Royal Society report "Reaping the Benefits" and the contribution to be made by British agriculture. Motion withdrawn.

Lords debate on motion to call attention to the Royal Society report "Reaping the Benefits" and the contribution to be made by British agriculture. Motion withdrawn.

My Lords, I start by thanking and congratulating the noble Baroness, Lady Byford, on initiating this important debate. I draw your Lordships’ attention to my declaration of interests: I am an owner and landlord of agricultural property, and my law firm has a large agricultural department. Governments and Parliaments the...

My Lords, I start by thanking and congratulating the noble Baroness, Lady Byford, on initiating this important debate. I draw your Lordships’ attention to my declaration of interests: I am an owner and landlord of agricultural property, and my law firm has a large agricultural department. Governments and Parliaments the...

My Lords, I, too, congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Byford, on introducing a debate of great importance. It has produced a series of speeches that have addressed some of the most significant issues that our country and our society have to face. It is clear that more and more food...

My Lords, I, too, congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Byford, on introducing a debate of great importance. It has produced a series of speeches that have addressed some of the most significant issues that our country and our society have to face. It is clear that more and more food...

My Lords, I declare my interest as a farmer and a grower. We are members of LEAF, the organisation that links farming and the environment, and of which my noble friend Lady Byford has spoken as its president. I have for a long time, like other noble Lords, been involved...

My Lords, I declare my interest as a farmer and a grower. We are members of LEAF, the organisation that links farming and the environment, and of which my noble friend Lady Byford has spoken as its president. I have for a long time, like other noble Lords, been involved...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the Minister for his response. He is right that we have had much convergence of thought around the Chamber this afternoon. We are all aware of the food security problem and the urgency that climate change adds to it. I thank all noble...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the Minister for his response. He is right that we have had much convergence of thought around the Chamber this afternoon. We are all aware of the food security problem and the urgency that climate change adds to it. I thank all noble...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Plumb. Rather a long time ago, I was a member of the European Parliament’s agriculture committee when he was its chairman. In those days, I think he thought that the late Barbara Castle and I, the Labour members...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Plumb. Rather a long time ago, I was a member of the European Parliament’s agriculture committee when he was its chairman. In those days, I think he thought that the late Barbara Castle and I, the Labour members...

My Lords, this is a timely debate, initiated by my noble friend Lady Byford. As we all know, the Copenhagen conference on climate change is now in progress, which in turn is timely since the future problems of the globe will be upon us in a matter of a generation....

My Lords, this is a timely debate, initiated by my noble friend Lady Byford. As we all know, the Copenhagen conference on climate change is now in progress, which in turn is timely since the future problems of the globe will be upon us in a matter of a generation....

My Lords, I too, must declare an interest as a farmer, and a trustee of the Lawes Agricultural Trust at Rothamsted. I focus my remarks on the crucial agricultural research that that goes on in this country but which is for the benefit of farmers in the developing world, notably...

My Lords, I too, must declare an interest as a farmer, and a trustee of the Lawes Agricultural Trust at Rothamsted. I focus my remarks on the crucial agricultural research that that goes on in this country but which is for the benefit of farmers in the developing world, notably...

My Lords, it is always a privilege to support my noble friend Lady Byford, especially on this problem. I crave the indulgence of the House and of the Minister if I have to leave before the wind-up—my wife has just come out of hospital and I think that she needs...

My Lords, it is always a privilege to support my noble friend Lady Byford, especially on this problem. I crave the indulgence of the House and of the Minister if I have to leave before the wind-up—my wife has just come out of hospital and I think that she needs...