Social Policy Research (Hansard, 24 February 2003)

§ Mr. Pike
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what evaluation has been made of social policy research commissioned by Government agencies at(a) the University of York and (b) other universities; and if he will make a statement. [94591]

§ Margaret Hodge
The Department evaluates all its research projects using systematic criteria. The process also includes holding feedback meetings with research contractors after completion and publication of the contracted work. The findings from research link directly to departmental policy development and programme evaluation.
The Department has run five projects with the University of York in the last four years. Four projects have been completed and have fully met the Department's requirements. The fifth is still in progress.
Information received from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) states that
The ESRC evaluates all of its research projects using systematic criteria".
Since 1990, the council has funded 301 social policy research projects at UK universities, including 12 projects at the University of York. All this work has been evaluated by the ESRC's research evaluation committee, and the results have been used to guide the development of the council's research strategy.

§ Mr. Pike
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to expand social policy research on a regional basis, commissioned to educational institutions within that region; and if he will make a statement. [94592]

§ Margaret Hodge
The Department has no plans to expand its research in any particular region.
The Department's research projects are normally commissioned through competitive tendering exercises. Universities across the UK, as well as other research organisations are invited to express an interest in tendering for individual research projects through the Department's research website. Contractors are then invited to submit a tender.
In the financial year 2002–03 the Department has 84 projects contracted to universities with a total contract value of £20 million.
Information received from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) states that
The ESRC will continue to fund social policy research through its grant awarding boards and has no plans to allocate funds on a regional basis.