Scientific Research

David Taylor
14. To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the role of the research councils in promoting scientific research in the public sector.

Ian Pearson
The research councils are responsible for funding research in the higher education sector and in their own institutes. The councils are encouraged, wherever relevant, to work closely with other public sector bodies in delivering their research, but it is the responsibility of those other public bodies to determine their priorities and activities in research.