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The data, published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, reveal the geographical distribution of research council funding when population is taken into account and show wide differences in investment.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the country where spending per head drops below ?20. But funding is also low in the East Midlands and West Midlands, with both at ?20.80 per person, Wales at ?22.80 and the South West of England at ?25, according to the report, .

Spending in three other English regions, the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber is below ?30 a head. In London, the South East and East, by contrast, spending is ?73.70, ?72 and ?67.50 per person respectively.

In Scotland the rate is ?59 per person and the average across England is ?45.70 a head, according to the report published on 24 June.

holly.else@tesglobal.com