Scientific Research: Funding (Hansard, 3 March 1992)

§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Baroness Blatch)
My Lords, the Department of Education and Science has a rolling programme for the review of the management systems of the research councils, including their procedures for making project grants. The Government have recently announced changes in the dual support system under which research in higher education institutions is supported through block grants from the Universities Funding Council and project grants from the research councils.

§ Lord Peyton of Yeovil
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for that reply. However, will the Minister undertake, or do her best, to procure some extension to the Treasury mind in order to accommodate the notion that research projects, once embarked upon, should be given a reasonable assurance of continuity of funding? Without that, the projects will be crippled, the money will be wasted, and those involved will become demoralised and go elsewhere.

§ Baroness Blatch
My Lords, I shall always take back to my right honourable colleagues messages from this House that occur during Question Time. However, 78 per cent. of the Science and Engineering Research Council's funds are devoted to projects — mostly European—other than pre-empted funds for subscriptive projects. The amount is therefore substantial. But at the end of the day it comes down to determining priorities.

§ Lord Peston
My Lords, one can exaggerate the benefits of continuity. Sometimes, drastic change is required in all our affairs. In the case of scientific research, does the department of the noble Baroness have assessors on the relevant councils? Do they convey to those councils, in assessing priorities, the kind of thoughts suggested by the noble Lord, Lord Peyton? I refer specifically to staff for whom continuity is of the essence because, apart from their careers, work really does go on.

§ Baroness Blatch
My Lords, I am all for continuity in the context of the first use of that word by the noble Lord, Lord Peston. In relation to his second point, the work done by assessors is important and will be materially important when pressing the case for continuity of funding.

§ Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone
My Lords, can my noble friend confirm my own experience of some years ago? There were only two wise criteria for funding research. One was a hopeful lead and the other a first class researcher. The less that government interfere with a specific project the better.

§ Baroness Blatch
My Lords, I note what my noble and learned friend says. But the new system that has been set up and the framework within which the funding is now made mean that the Government are not interfering with funds.

§ Lord Dormand of Easington
My Lords, do the Government recognise the splendid and valuable work being done by some private companies? As one who is interested in Alzheimer's disease, can I ask whether the Minister is aware of the thousands of pounds and the manpower which Parke-Davis, for example, is investing in research in that area? Is that not something which the Government should recognise and assist in any way they can?

§ Baroness Blatch
My Lords, first, I recognise absolutely the specific need for research pointed out by the noble Lord. However, I am not certain what his question is. In terms of recognising the valuable contribution made by private companies, that goes without saying. The Government do regard it as valuable. I hope that the noble Lord is not saying that the Government should recognise it in such a way that it has an influence on the amount of money that the Government make available to research.

§ Lord Peyton of Yeovil
My Lords, will my noble friend undertake to read some of the recent reports from the Science and Engineering Research Council and the Medical Research Council? On the pages of those reports she will find, albeit expressed in restrained terms, a deep disappointment.

§ Baroness Blatch
My Lords, again I shall be guided in my bedtime reading by the request of my noble friend. However, I believe that the chairman welcomed the new rising profile of funding and the new system of determining pre-empted funds for subscription projects. In that respect I believe that at least for the moment the situation in 1992–93 is rather happier than it was in 1991.

§ Baroness Seear
My Lords, is the noble Baroness expecting to do any bedtime reading? I do not think that she has any bedtime, so far as I can see.