Written question asked by Donald Gorrie (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 7 July 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 27 July 1999. It was answered by Lord Reid of Cardowan (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 July 1999 on behalf of the Scottish Office.

Scottish Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to ensure that research in Scottish institutions funded by research councils is properly integrated with research funded by the Scottish Executive to ensure the best use of resources.

Answer: Mr. Gorrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that research in Scottish institutions funded by research councils is properly integrated with research funded by the Scottish Executive to ensure the best use of resources. [90778] Dr. Reid: Appropriate integration of the two streams of the research funding has been recognised for some time as an important matter. The Science and Engineering Base Co-ordinating Committee--which draws its members from the senior officials of the Research Councils, the Funding Councils (including SHEFC), the UK and devolved departments with responsibility for Higher Education and the Office of Science and Technology-- aims to co-ordinate science and engineering base research activity across the UK and to ensure that it is consistent with, and targeted on, Government objectives. Research in Scottish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is funded both by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) and the UK Research Councils Policy relating to the former is devolved and therefore a matter for the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament similarly, the UK Research Council are the responsibility of my Noble Friend, Lord Sainsbury.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 90778; 336 c216W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Higher education Scotland Technology Research Science Research councils