Business, Innovation and Skills – in the House of Commons at 10:30 am on 4 March 2010.
Julian Lewis
Shadow Minister (Defence)
10:30,
4 March 2010
Whether his Department's science budget will remain ring-fenced after 2011-12.
David Lammy
Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) (Higher Education and Intellectual Property)
The Government have no plans to alter the ring fence around the science and research budget.
Julian Lewis
Shadow Minister (Defence)
I thank the Minister for that reassuring reply. The only problem with it is that, because the Government have put off the comprehensive spending review, no one has any idea what sort of sum is being ring-fenced. If it is not to be all show and no substance, will he indicate what sum is being ring-fenced, otherwise is it not nonsense to say that the ring fence will be maintained?
David Lammy
Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) (Higher Education and Intellectual Property)
It is axiomatic that every area of Government is subject to a spending review, which will be determined after the Budget; that is obvious and applies to every Department. I think that the question is asked and answered.
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.
