Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate his Department has made of the total amount that will be available to ring-fenced science and research funding organisations in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

The Government protected the science ring-fence in cash terms for financial year 2015/16 at £4.6bn. In addition the Chancellor announced in December 2014 a long-term commitment to investment in science infrastructure at £1.1bn per annum in real terms to 2021.

Decisions on the amount and allocation of funding beyond 2015/16 will be made as part of the Spending Review. We cannot pre-judge the Spending Review outcome.