To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take to ensure that future assessments of research in universities are based on the work of schools, departments and faculties as a whole, and not only on an aggregate of research by some staff directly or indirectly related to those schools, departments or faculties. [HL93]

Assessment of research in higher education should aim to identify research of the highest quality as well as recognising the impact of that research. The detailed approach to assessment is rightly a matter for the higher education funding bodies. The Higher Education Funding Council for England is currently consulting on proposals for a new research excellence framework on behalf of the four UK higher education funding bodies. The consultation proposals are available on their website (http://www.hefce.ac.uk/research/ref/) and HEFCE is seeking responses from research community and research users by a closing date of 16 December.