CONCLUSION
89. No doubt the Funding Councils' review of the
RAE will consider a range of options for the future. We await
its outcome with great interest, since it will have important
implications for the future of science and technology in the UK.
An effective funding mechanism for research infrastructure will
be crucial if we are to maintain and enhance the UK's research
excellence and exploit it successively. It is essential that DfES,
the Funding Councils, the devolved administrations, OST and the
Research Councils work closely together to ensure that the funding
to the science base is coherent and adequate to maintain the quality
of UK research. We shall follow developments closely and, if necessary,
report again to the House.
90. Meanwhile we shall seek to obtain an opportunity
to debate this Report. Noting the Liaison Committee's encouragement
to Committees to suggest the terms of substantive motions in their
reports,[139] we
suggest the following motion for debate by the House:
"That this House commends the higher
education sector for the marked improvement in research quality
demonstrated by the Research Assessment Exercise 2001; takes note
of the conclusions and recommendations in the Second Report of
the Science and Technology Committee on the Research Assessment
Exercise (HC 507); notes the concerns reflected in that Report
on the impact of the RAE on research priorities and on universities'
other functions; acknowledges the vital contribution which higher
education research in science and technology makes to society
and to the economy; and calls on the Government to fund the RAE
results fully in the forthcoming Spending Review."
139 First Report of the Liaison Committee,
1999-2000, Shifting the Balance: Select Committees and the
Executive, HC 300, paragraph 39 Back
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