Research Projects (Hansard, 25 April 1994)

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research projects have been undertaken in the last 10 years; in each case, whether this research was published, if applicable; in what form it was made available to the general public; and what proportion of his Department's commissioned research projects in each year have resulted in publication.

§ Mr. Key
The Department commissions many research projects each year addressing issues ranging from urban congestion, parking control, public transport operations, bridge and highway engineering to aviation and shipping safety. At any particular time, some 400 to 500 projects are in progress. In general, the Department's policy is that the results of this research commissioned should be published or otherwise disseminated to those expected to benefit from the knowledge.
Publication can be in the form of research reports, contractor reports, guides, papers and articles. The Transport Research Laboratory, which has been responsible for carrying out and managing much of the Department's research, has published approximately 800 such reports since 1985. Without disproportionate effort, it is not possible to establish in what form each research result was made available and what proportion this represents of the total research commissioned. Moreover, reports often do not represent the final outcome of the Department's research effort. In many cases, findings are promulgated through changes to technical standards, legislation, operational procedures and policy.

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the value of the combined research operations functioning on the purpose adapted site at Crowthorne;
(2) what assessment he has made of the financial value of collaborative research to the Transport Research Laboratory.

§ Mr. Key
Assessments of the value of the research operations at Crowthorne and of the collaborative research undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory are commercially confidential information, the disclosure of which would be prejudicial to the sale process.

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he will take to ensure continued impartiality following privatisation of the Transport Research Laboratory.

§ Mr. Key
My right hon. Friend will be considering the measures required to ensure the continued impartiality of the Transport Research Laboratory with his financial and other advisers as part of the process of transferring the laboratory to the private sector.