Oral Answers to Questions — Education and Science – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 11 Rhagfyr 1973.
Mr Geoffrey Rhodes
, Newcastle upon Tyne East
12:00,
11 Rhagfyr 1973
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current size of the grant she makes to the Medical Research Council.
Mrs Margaret Thatcher
Secretary of State for Education and Science, Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science
The Estimates for 1973–74 provide for a grant in aid of about £25½ million from my Department to the Medical Research Council.
Mr Geoffrey Rhodes
, Newcastle upon Tyne East
Just what control has the Department over this large sum of money once it has been disbursed? For example, in view of the shambles left behind by the MRC subsequent to the sacking of the director of the multiple sclerosis research unit at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, does the Minister not feel that it is high time she intervened more directly and ascertained whether this £25 million is being spent efficiently? Just where does public accountability come into this matter?
Mrs Margaret Thatcher
Secretary of State for Education and Science, Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science
I am advised on the allocation of research budget money by the advisory board for the Medical Research Council, which has on it distinguished scientists, representatives of the Departments and independent members. On the whole, I have accepted its advice and I have every confidence in the way in which the boards of the research councils conduct their affairs.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
