§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, if he has received the report of the working party chaired by Sir Alec Merrison into the future funding of university research; if he will publish this, and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Keith Joseph[pursuant to his reply, 5 May 1982, c. 85.]: I have arranged for the report of a joint working party of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils and the University Grants Committee on the support of university scientific research to be published today: copies are available in the Vote Office. The subject of this study, which was carried out under the chairmanship of Sir Alec Merrison, is an important one. In particular I would like the recommendations which are addressed to the universities themselves to be considered carefully: at. a time when resources are necessaarily under great pressure it is essential that careful decisions are taken both for, and between, the research activities within universities. Recommendations are addressed also to the research councils and to others involved in supporting university research, and to the ABRC and the UGC. I shall be considering the recommendations which call for a response from my Department.