§ 69. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will conduct a review of the criteria employed by research councils for the allocation of research grants to universities.
§ Mr. BrookeNo. The research councils are responsible for making scientific judgments within their fields. My right hon. Friend looks to the Advisory Board for the Research Councils for advice on the balance of councils' scientific programmes. I understand that, in forming a view on this, the board explores the basis on which councils reach judgments, particularly the criteria they apply and their general procedures for determining priorities. The board is currently pursuing these matters in the context of discussing councils' corporate plans.