§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will change the system of funding research at universities to encourage more co-operation between different institutions. [61544]
§ Mr. MudieThe funding of research at universities by the higher education funding bodies is informed by ratings of research quality through the Research Assessment170W Exercise (RAE). I welcome the recognition by the higher education funding bodies, in their planning for the next RAE to be held in 2001, of the importance of ensuring that the arrangements for making submissions do not deter research collaboration. The funding bodies are currently considering further how to facilitate the submission of collaborative research in the RAE in the light of recent consultation on this and other issues.