BIS responds to Science and Technology Select Committees’ reports

30 July 2010 12:16

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (National)

The Government has published two command papers today setting out its response to reports published during the previous Parliament by the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee on Impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research and the Lords Science and Technology Select Committee on Setting priorities for publicly funded research.

Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said:

“The Government welcomes the Select Committees’ wide ranging enquiries which are a valuable contribution to the public debate on this issue. Science is vital to our future as a nation in a global knowledge economy. We expect to have a stable framework for the science and research budget, after the Government's Spending Review is completed. I am committed to supporting the science community and encouraging scientific understanding more widely so we can tackle society’s major challenges.

“The Government has noted the concerns highlighted by the Committees and others about the Research Excellence Framework, and work has begun on a method of assessing the impact of research across all disciplines. As I announced earlier this month, there will be a one-year delay to the implementation of the REF so we can see whether a robust impact assessment methodology can be developed.”

Notes for editors

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