NEARLY a year after completing an extensive review of 52 public sector research establishments, the British government is to put 44 of them back under the microscope. The remaining eight have already been merged or are scheduled to be sold off. The aim of the new examinations will be the same as the original review 鈥� to identify pockets of public science that can be merged, privatised or abolished.
The government announced its intentions last week in its response to last year鈥檚 review, known as the 鈥渟crutiny鈥�. Bill Brett, general secretary of the IPMS, the union that represents many people who work in the laboratories, calls the new move 鈥渁 complete waste of time鈥�. After all, the scrutiny failed to find any candidates for privatisation. 鈥淲e are spending more time reviewing the labs than actually doing the science,鈥� says Brett.
To the relief of many scientists, however, the government has rejected a key recommendation of the scrutiny, that management of the laboratories should be reorganised according to market sector or geography. 鈥淧ublic discussion influenced our thinking,鈥� says Ian Taylor, junior minister in charge of science and technology. The scrutiny and its findings were broadly criticised by scientists and select committees from both Houses of Parliament.
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The new sweep of reviews will be conducted by the overseeing bodies 鈥� either a government department or research council 鈥� plus an independent member. They should be completed by the end of 1996.
鈥淲e already undertake this analysis internally on an ongoing basis,鈥� says John Krebs, chief executive of the Natural Environment Research Council. He argues that in order to complete the review in the time available, people will have to be taken away from 鈥渙ther jobs of higher priority鈥�.
In a separate move, the government also announced last week that universities will no longer be the sole recipients of research council funds. Research charities, government research establishments and even some commercial organisations will be eligible to compete.
For now, only money set aside by the research councils for specific areas of research will be open to all. Money available for 鈥渞esponsive mode鈥� grants 鈥� which go to researchers with the best ideas regardless of the specific area 鈥� will remain completely protected.
鈥淭his allows the research councils to make better use of the expertise available,鈥� says Taylor. He is confident, however, that 鈥渦niversities will be strongly placed to take part. The excellence there will be well-reflected.鈥�