§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister whether it was with her authority that Mr. Tony Fairclough, chief scientific administrator at the Cabinet Office, advocated making a few universities internationally competitive as centres of excellence in selected areas of sciences; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterIn advocating greater selectivity and concentration of resources for scientific research in higher education, Mr. Fairclough was fairly representing the view of the Government that there needs to be greater concentration and selectivity of research activities in order to strengthen international competitiveness and make the most effective use of resources. The University Grants Committee, with the encouragement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, is already implementing a more selective policy for research funding in the universities.