§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will take steps to ensure that the proposed Arts and Humanities Research Council has the same status as science-based research councils when it is funded by the Office for Science and Technology; and what steps he is taking to safeguard funding for research in the arts and humanities. [158611]
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§ Alan JohnsonThe Higher Education Bill, currently before the House, provides for the proposed Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to operate on the same lines as the existing science Research Councils under the auspice; of the Office of Science and Technology.
As recommended by the Review of Arts and Humanities Research funding, we are providing for a once and for all transfer of funds from the DfES, the Department for Education and Learning in Northern Ireland, the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Executive to the Department for Trade and Industry. The level of future funding for research including Arts and Humanities research is a matter for the Spending Review.