§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what way the Welsh Office co-ordinates and administers scientific research carried out at Welsh universities. [38737]
§ Mr. RichardsPublic funding for research in higher education in Wales is directed through two distinct channels. General funds, for use at institutions' discretion, are allocated by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales from grant in aid provided by the Welsh Office and are used to support basic and strategic research. The allocation of funding to individual institutions reflects the assessed quality of research undertaken at each institution. Specific funding for particular research projects undertaken by an institution is provided by the appropriate research council.
The Welsh Office provides advice to the HEFCW on the general policies to be adopted in the allocation of funding for research. Neither the Department nor the funding council seeks to co-ordinate research undertaken in the higher education institutions.