§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidelines exist for the procedures to be adopted by the Medical Research Council when it seeks contributions to research work from individuals who might benefit from the outcome of that research. [17144]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorExternal sponsors of research may frequently stand to benefit from the outcome of that research whether they be commercial organisations or Government Departments. The MRC finance guide, which is distributed to all unit directors, contains broad guidelines on seeking and managing external funding. The MRC's policy is to accept external funding only under explicit terms of contract which protect the council's independence. In particular, the council will not carry out research with external funding unless it fits clearly within its mission. Under its terms of contract, the council retains freedom to publish results, and there are restrictions on the use of results, and of the council's name, without prior consent.