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Written question asked by Alison McGovern (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 May 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 13 May 2011. It was answered by Lord Willetts (Conservative) on Wednesday, 18 May 2011 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Research: Finance

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what monitoring his Department undertakes of the level of investment in (a) research and development and (b) new technologies by the (i) business sector and (ii) regions and nations of the UK.
Answer

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) collects figures on Business Expenditure on Research and Development (BERD) within the UK. The most recent data, published in December 2010, showed £15.6 billion was spent in 2009 on research and development (R&D) performed within UK businesses. Total R&D expenditure in 2009 represented 1.1% of GDP, in line with recent years. The regional breakdown for business R&D in 2009 is as follows:

BERD, 2009
£ million
UK 15,624
England 14,361
North east 313
North west 2,050
Yorkshire and Humber 452
East midlands 984
West midlands 873
East of England 3,898
London 926
South east 3,598
South west 1,267
Wales 321
Scotland 644
Northern Ireland 297

The ONS, on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, also collects data on innovation and investment in new technologies through the UK Innovation Survey. The latest figures showed 58% of UK businesses engaged in some innovation activity during the three year period 2006 to 2008 by either developing a new product and/or process or investing in a future innovation.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
55847; 528 c272-4W
Session
2010-12
Related items
Research: Finance
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Written questions
House of Commons
Notes
Question originally printed on 17 May 2011 at 528 c152-3W
Subjects
Finance Research
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk