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Science and Technology Facilities Council

Volume 504: debated on Tuesday 26 January 2010

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the terms of reference are of the review of the Science and Technology Facilities Council announced by the Minister of State for Science and Innovation on 16 December 2009. (311824)

The Review will consider:

how better to manage overseas programme costs;

the improved management of the exchange rate risk;

the current structure of the STFC grant portfolio;

planning the use of facilities managed by STFC but available to researchers across several Research Councils.

The Review, undertaken with the close involvement of STFC, will engage key stakeholders from the STFC scientific community, the other Research Councils and their scientific communities, the relevant learned societies and the Treasury. The Review will also examine arrangements overseas for the funding and operation of large scientific facilities and for the equivalent of STFC research grants.