Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Drayson (Labour) on Monday, 22 February 2010.

Embryology

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Truscott on 25 June 2007 (WA 96–8) and by Lord Drayson on 15 January 2010 (WA 197), how the research councils have engaged with concerns raised by Professor Robin Lovell-Badge and Professor Austin Smith about the use of public money for certain types of stem cell work, reported on 2 February 2010; and to what extent they have evaluated the impact of any such publication bias on the peer review system.

Answer: The Medical Research Council (MRC) considers excellence as the primary consideration in taking decisions on which proposals to fund and all research proposals submitted to the MRC are subject to stringent scientific peer review. Considerable emphasis is placed on the written proposal submitted. The MRC does not rely solely on the record of published papers; this is just one aspect of an application that is taken into account. The MRC has not been made aware of any evidence that would support the suggestion of any publication bias in the peer review system.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 717 c212WA; 1804
Session: 2009-10
Related items: Professor Peter Lawrence
Friday, 15 January 2010
Written questions
House of Lords; Health: Stem Cell Therapy
Monday, 25 June 2007
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Finance Medical Research Council Research Stem cells
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk