§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of English higher education departments received a research rating of(a) three or above and (b) five during the recent research assessment exercise; and if she will make a statement. [29041]
§ Mr. BoswellThe higher education funding bodies are responsible for the conduct of the periodic research assessment exercise. Of the 2,127 submissions made by higher education departments in England to the 1992 research assessment exercise, 62 per cent. received a research rating of three or above; 14 per cent. of the departments received the top rating of five. The Government and the High Education Funding Council for England are committed to the principle of selectivity in the allocation of funding for research. The next research assessment exercise is to be undertaken in 1996.