§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what recent representations he has received concerning the system of dual funding for research in universities; and what plans he has to change the system; [47048]
(2) what assessment he has made of the efficiency and effectiveness of the dual funding system for university research; and if he will make a statement. [47049]
§ Mr. MudieThe outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review has demonstrated the Government's commitment to invest in strengthening the science base and modernise the UK's research performance through the dual support system, while ensuring that the Higher Education Funding Councils and the Research Councils work closely together to deliver better value for money and transparency in the use of research funds. Over the three years up to 2001–02, an additional £1.4 billion will be provided for research, including £1.1 billion through the science budget and the Wellcome Trust and a further £0.3 billion to support universities' research through the Higher Education Funding Council for England. This additional investment responds to the concerns expressed by the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (the Dearing Committee) about research infrastructure in universities and to the conclusion by that Committee, which was endorsed in the responses to consultation on the Committee's report and more recently by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, that the dual support system should remain in place.