HL Deb 23 November 1994 vol 559 cc8-9WA
Baroness David

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why a low rating is at present given in university research assessment to the publication of textbooks and monographs, and whether they have any plans to adjust this rating upwards.

Lord Lucas

The next university research assessment exercise will be conducted in 1996 by the Higher Education Funding Councils and the Department of Education for Northern Ireland. These bodies and the assessment panels they appoint have the responsibility for establishing the method of rating research published in various forms. The framework for the 1996 research assessment exercise was published in June 1994 after consultation with higher education institutions and representative bodies.

I believe that it would be most helpful for the Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, which is undertaking the exercise in conjunction with the other funding bodies, to write to the noble Baroness on their behalf to answer in more detail the specific point she has raised. I have asked him to do so.