Views of the Medical Research Council on the Green Paper "A Framework for Government Research and Development".
The Council recognize the research needs of Government departments and wish to play their part in meeting them (paragraph 4). The Council have an important role in the national research effort (paragraph 5). Coherent policies in medical research are essential for the best use of resources (paragraph 6). The customer/contractor relationship is inappropriate to most biomedical research (paragraph 8). Transfer of 25% of the Council's budget to departments would, in the long term, hinder the advance of medical practice (paragraph 9). Short-term consequences for universities would be severe (paragraph 10). It would be uneconomical for departments to duplicate machinery for making detailed research policy choices (paragraph 11). A better partnership that will meet the needs of government should be developed between departments and the Council (paragraph 12). Respective responsibilities of departments and the Council in research should be redefined (paragraph 12a). Government funds for medical and related research should be reapportioned in relation to responsibilities (paragraph 12b). A basis is proposed for future partnership with departments, which is not dependent on financial sanctions (paragraph 12c). The Council favour establishment of a board similar to that proposed in the Dainton report (Annex 2).
D000047:Academies and Institutes; D005380:Financing, Government; D006077:Government Agencies; D009934:Organization and Administration; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D006113:United Kingdom; D014495:Universities