HC Deb 26 October 1998 vol 318 cc3-4W
Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will calculate the average time taken for the completion of grant applications to her Department in 1997–98. [56537]

Clare Short

I understand that this question relates particularly to procedures for the Joint Funding Scheme and Economic and Social Committee on Overseas Research (ESCOR) grants, and have answered on this basis.

The average time taken to complete grant applications to the Joint Funding Scheme is 6 months. All applications to the Joint Funding Scheme must be received by 30 November each year, with decisions being taken when the appraisal of all the project proposals has been completed. Decisions are usually taken in May.

For ESCOR the period between receipt of grant application and a final decision will vary according to the size, type and timing of the application. The decision time normally varies between a few days and eight months. The average decision time for larger projects which go before the ESCOR committee is 5 months. The average time for smaller projects is 3 months.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the procedure for grant applications to her Department. [56536]

Clare Short

I understand that this question relates particularly to procedures for the Joint Funding Scheme and Economic and Social Committee on Overseas Research (ESCOR) grants, and have answered on this basis.

The Joint Funding Scheme operates a single annual funding round. All applications must be received by 30 November each year. Each proposal is considered on its merits and receives careful appraisal; this will often involve lengthy dialogue with applicants. The decision on what projects to support will take place once the appraisal of all project proposals has been completed. Decisions are usually taken in May.

The usual procedure for ESCOR is to submit an outline of the proposed research project, which is reviewed internally. For projects under £40,000, a decision may be made fairly quickly based on the outline and internal review. For larger projects, if the outline is deemed promising, a full application is invited and submitted to either an internal Panel or the ESCOR Committee (for projects over £70,000). Larger projects are subject to refereeing by 2 independent reviewers. The Committee or the Panel, which meet every 4 months, will then take a decision on each application.

Information packs and guidelines on how to make an application under both schemes are available from my Department.