Select committee: Science and Technology Committee

Science research funding in universities inquiry

Closed Opened 8 May 2019 Closed 8 May 2019

Science and Technology Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)

The Augar Review recommended reducing the tuition fee cap in England to £7,500 but unless this loss is fully compensated by increasing the teaching grant to individual institutions, it will result in significant financial consequences for universities. Any loss in funding would require universities to divert other income streams to support teaching, reducing the resources available to support research. The panel made no attempt to assess the potential impact of its recommended reductions in student fees on the funding of research. All Science research funding in university publications

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 8 May 2019.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 4th Report - Science research funding in universities on 8 August 2019.

The government's response

Published 18 October 2019.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government's response commits to increasing R&D funding to "at least 2.4 per cent of GDP by 2027", says it will consider the Augar Review recommendations "carefully", and says it would like the "option to associate" with Horizon Europe.

On QR funding, the government says it will set out plans in the Autumn to "significantly boost public R&D funding", and has asked UKRI for formal advice on the balance of funding between Research Councils and Research England ahead of the Spending Review.
On the Augar Review, the government says it will consider the recommendations "carefully" and "will consider the potential impacts on overall university funding as it considers the recommendations". On university autonomy, it "agrees that the institutional autonomy of higher education providers is important".
On Horizon Europe, the UK "would like the option to associate", "should the conditions be right" and the programme represent value for money. It says elements "need to be finalised before we can make an informed decision".
On researcher mobility, it cites a new uncapped fast-track visa scheme for elite scientists and says the Migration Advisory Committee has been asked to report on salary thresholds by January 2020.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Reports

4th Report - Science research funding in universities8 August 2019

All reports

Evidence

6 oral evidence sessionsLatest 25 June 2019

All evidence

Recent activity

Science research funding in universities - Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Department for Education response18 October 2019, Report published
4th Report - Science research funding in universities8 August 2019, Report published
Oral evidence session25 June 2019, Oral evidence

Reports

1 report

4th Report - Science research funding in universities

HC No.: Not recorded
Published: 8 Aug 2019
Items: 0
Government response: Government response published 18 October 2019. Read the government's response ↗

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions

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Date	Session and witnesses	Source
25 Jun 2019	Oral evidence session No witnesses recorded	View ↗
19 Jun 2019	Oral evidence session No witnesses recorded	View ↗
18 Jun 2019	Oral evidence session No witnesses recorded	View ↗
11 Jun 2019	Oral evidence session No witnesses recorded	View ↗
4 Jun 2019	Oral evidence session No witnesses recorded	View ↗
21 May 2019	Oral evidence session No witnesses recorded	View ↗