Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much he plans to spend on support for science research in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [000790]

Mr Willetts; Minister for Universities and Science: This Department will provide £5.7 billion of ring-fenced Science and Research funding this year. It is made up of the Science and Research budget of £3.9 billion, principally to the Research Councils and £1.8 billion of research funding distributed by the university funding Council in England.

Because the last Government cancelled the Comprehensive Spending Review, budgets have not been set for future years. They will be decided this autumn as part of the Spending Review.