Examination of Witnesses (Questions 60-66)
DR CLARE
GOODESS, MR
ROBERT PATTON
AND DR
LIZ RUGG
WEDNESDAY 3 JULY 2002
60. And that is creating the problem?
(Dr Rugg) Yes.
Mr McWalter
61. The message from you to Gordon Brown in
terms of the Comprehensive Spending Review, which is due fairly
shortly, would be if things carry on like this he is mad.
(Dr Rugg) Yes.
Chairman
62. We are getting near the close of time but
one question I venture to ask is what advice would you give to
the three previous witnesses? You are further down the line, tell
us exactly what you would say to them if they appeared in front
of you?
(Dr Goodess) The last time I was asked to give advice
to somebody who was thinking of giving up their permanent job
at Norwich Union to come and work for me, I was honest about the
prospects and he did not apply for the job in the end. You have
to be honest to people given the situation as it is. I think it
could be relatively easily changed if the will was there.
Dr Turner
63. You guys have been on short-term contracts
for a long time now, do they all contain redundancy waivers?
(Mr Patton) Yes.
(Dr Rugg) Yes.
64. You have been on them for periods of 20
years or more?
(Dr Rugg) Yes.
Chairman
65. What do you think of this European dimension
that is coming in now, the four year thing? Do you know about
it, Clare?
(Dr Goodess) Yes, I do.
66. What do you think about that? Is it El Dorado
at last?
(Dr Goodess) If it is not misused by universities
then I think it is a good thing. There is a lot of unease about
researchers because they feel that universities will use any excuse
they can. I think there is a concern that people will be pushed
out after two years or four years. Hopefully the universities
will apply it seriously.
Chairman: Thank you very much indeed. You have
been in the game a long time. Obviously it does not get any better.
Thank you for coming and giving us your time.
| 
