HC Deb 24 May 1989 vol 153 cc537-8W
Mr. Bellingham

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what objectives the Government hope to achieve from its £1.6 billion expenditure in the current year on the science base.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

The purposes and objectives of DES expenditure on research are set out in a document on the new system of resource management introduced on 1 April by the research councils, Her Majesty's Treasury and my Department. A copy has been placed in the Library but the relevant section is reproduced below:

1. The purposes of DES expenditure on research are, and should continue to be:

For the good of the United Kingdom: to advance knowledge and technological capability; to help produce qualified manpower at postgraduate level; and in these and other ways; to help achieve economic, social and cultural benefits.

The overall strategy objective should therefore be: To develop and maintain a world competitive United Kingdom Science Base in higher education and the Research Councils, characterised by creativity and vitality, which: delivers high-quality basic and strategic research output predominantly in areas with promise of commercial exploitability and other useful applications; and contributes to the preparation of the well-educated manpower which the United Kingdom economy needs.

2. The main objectives are:

Quality

  1. (a) to increase the output of high quality research from the Science Base; and
  2. (b) to increase the quality and utility of postgraduate education; by
  3. (c) enhancing the research capability of the Science Base, notably through greater concentration of research activities and more selective allocation of resources;
  4. (d) ensuring that basic research is properly and adequately sustained, so that creative scientists have opportunity to develop the original insights from which new inventions flow;
  5. (e) increasing the responsiveness of the Science Base, having regard both to scientific opportunities and perceived national needs, and the balance between them;
  6. (f) increasing international collaboration in science where this gives good value for money—for instance where necessary concentration cannot be achieved at the national level—and having particular regard to possibilities for co-operation within the EC.

Exploitability

In collaboration with industry and other Departments as appropriate:

  1. (g) to move the balance of research activity towards exploitable areas, having regard both to commercial uses and to those which bring other benefits, such as in health and in the environment;
  2. (h) to promote greater common purpose between the Science Base and its users—in industry, commerce and government;
  3. (i) to be more selective in the choice of research activities, with particular regard to exploitability as well as quality;
  4. (j) to increase inderdisciplinary collaboration in research and related postgraduate education;
  5. (k) to increase the commercial exploitation and other uses of research outputs;
  6. (l) to further commercial and other use of Science Base facilities and capabilities where appropriate.

Manpower

In addition to the manpower aspects of the preceding objectives:

  1. (m) to secure a better match between support for postgraduate training and the needs of United Kingdom employers;
  2. (n) to secure an adequate supply of, and better mobility for, very highly qualified manpower for research in industry and the Science Base;
  3. (o) to improve opportunities for the most able researchers who might otherwise leave research or emigrate;
  4. (p) to improve the management, career development and training of scientists in the Science Base.

A Coherent, Efficient and Effective System

As a means to achieving the former objectives:

  1. (q) to bring about greater coherence between higher education and the Research Councils, by promoting shared objectives, concerted planning, and where appropriate shared resources;
  2. (r) to develop better communication and understanding between the Science Base and the users of its outputs, notably industry and commerce;
  3. (s) to increase the efficiency and quality of research management and administration in the Science Base;
  4. (t) to increase accountability for the allocation and use of expenditure on research, notably in higher education;
  5. (u) to promote further development of monitoring and evaluation of research policy and performance by the Science Base itself;
  6. (v) to develop, monitor and evaluate policy for DES expenditure on research;
  7. (w) to raise the level of United Kingdom understanding of, and regard for, the role of the Science Base in national life and especially in wealth creation.