ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE RESEARCH COUNCILS (Hansard, 22 January 1990)

§ Viscount Davidson

My right honourable friend wrote to Sir David Phillips, Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils, on 19th January, accepting the recommendation made to him by the board that it should be reconstituted this spring.

The text of his letter is as follows:

"Dear Sir David

FUTURE STRUCTURE OF THE RESEARCH COUNCIL SYSTEM

Thank you for your letter of 15th November conveying the Board's advice about the future structure of the research council system.

916WA

The case which you put forward for reconstitution of the ABRC—as a smaller body with a more explicit remit to improve co-ordination and joint working among the research councils—is strong and convincing. The Government therefore intend to implement this recommendation with effect from 1st April. The terms of reference for the new ABRC will be those proposed in the annex to your advice. I am very pleased that you have accepted my invitation to become the first chairman of the new board, and I hope to be able to announce its full membership within a few weeks.

I and my colleagues are considering the board's subsequent advice about improving co-ordination between the Agricultural and Food Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council. I shall let you know our conclusions as soon as possible.

I shall, naturally, be informing Parliament about the Government's decision on the reconstitution of the ABRC and, given the wide interest in the scientific community, I am arranging for this letter and the board's advice to be published."

Copies of this letter and of the board's advice have been placed in the Library.