Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many jobs in Scotland are supported by science funding from his Department.

The number of Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) jobs in Scotland directly supported by science funding from the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) is 823.

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) currently supports 583 people as principal investigator or co-investigator in academic departments within Scotland.

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) currently employs 287 people and the Medical Research Council employs 13 staff in hearing research and regulatory support across Scotland.

BIS science funding administered by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) also positively impacts on HEIs and the wider economy in Scotland, but the number of posts is not immediately quantifiable due to the nature of how certain grants are funded.

Institutions across Scotland are eligible to apply for grants from all seven of the UK Research Councils, which are awarded to support excellent research driven by both researcher curiosity (responsive mode grants) and strategic priorities (managed mode grants). It is however important to note that the impact of science funding extends far beyond those directly funded from Research Council grants. For example, much of the research done by the academics, researchers and technicians noted above will be carried out in partnership with private industry, charities or other public organisations and consequently will indirectly support jobs in those organisations through increased innovation, competitiveness and efficiency.