Feargal Quinn (Independent)

Those of us who have a vested interest in this would like to have a say in it and we would like to be able to ensure it is debated.

The other issue that attracts me is the fact that we introduced the word "innovation" into a Department two years ago. There was an innovation task force whose report I re-examined recently to see what it discussed. In that report, Professor Patrick Cunningham, who was appointed chief scientific adviser to the Government, made strong cases which I had not quite understood previously. He stated that, as part of our gross domestic product, there is natural capital such as oil, produced capital such as buildings and railways, and all the rest is intellectual capital. In countries which have been successful, of which we are one, intellectual capital makes up 80% of GDP, yet that needs an investment in education and science. Other countries are doing this and we are in danger of being left behind. It is interesting to see what other countries have done. The United States is investing 3% of GDP in science, and President Sarkozy in France has set up a commission to measure the economic performance based on that as well. I urge the Leader to ensure we have a debate on education that covers all those areas of which we spoke and the necessary investment in science.