Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Innovation, Universities & Skills Committee's Books

House of Commons - Business, Innovation and Skills Committee: The Retail Sector: Volume II - HC 168-II

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Business, Innovation and Skills Committee,Adrian Bailey

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House of Commons - Business, Innovation and Skills Committee: The Retail Sector: Volume II - HC 168-II

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Business, Innovation and Skills Committee,Adrian Bailey

Additional written evidence is contained in volume 3, available on the Committee website at www.parliament.uk/bis

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208

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The Stationery Office

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ISBN 10

0215068912

ISBN 13

9780215068910

Renewable Electricity - Generation Technologies

Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

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Renewable Electricity - Generation Technologies

Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

The European Union's (EU) common Energy Policy commits the EU to generating 20 per cent of total energy consumption from renewables by 2020. The European Commission proposed national renewable energy targets for each Member State and it was suggested that 15 per cent of UK energy be derived from renewables by 2020.

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400

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ISBN 10

0215521099

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9780215521095

The Legacy Report

Ninth Report of Session 2009-10, Report, Together with Formal Minutes

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee,Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology

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The Legacy Report

Ninth Report of Session 2009-10, Report, Together with Formal Minutes

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee,Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology

Following a two-year absence the Science and Technology Committee was re-formed in October 2009 to conduct cross-departmental scrutiny of science and technology. This report summarises the Committee's work of this session. It also reviews the historical landscape of science scrutiny in Parliament across the work of predecessor committees, and documents the impacts they have had on policy and the culture of scientific debate within Westminster. The Committee highlight several inquiries and reports that have had significant impact in informing legislative decisions and holding government to the standard of evidence based policy making.

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ISBN 10

0215553489

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9780215553485

Withdrawal of Funding for Equivalent Or Lower Level Qualifications (ELQs)

Third Report of Session 2007-08, Vol. 2: Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

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Withdrawal of Funding for Equivalent Or Lower Level Qualifications (ELQs)

Third Report of Session 2007-08, Vol. 2: Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

States that in September 2007, the government announced that it was withdrawing state funding paid to higher education institutions to subsidize the fees of Equivalent or Lower Level Qualifications (ELQ) students, that is those studying for a qualification at the same or lower level than they already hold.

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284

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ISBN 10

0215514386

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9780215514387

Putting science and engineering at the heart of government policy

eighth report of session 2008-09, Vol. 2: Oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

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Putting science and engineering at the heart of government policy

eighth report of session 2008-09, Vol. 2: Oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

A report that considers the broad issue of why science and engineering are important and why they should be at the heart of Government policy. It also considers three more specific issues: the debate on strategic priorities; the principles that inform science funding decisions; and, the scrutiny of science and engineering across Government.

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308

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ISBN 10

0215540212

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9780215540218

Engineering

Turning Ideas Into Reality, Fourth Report of Session 2008-09, Vol. 2: Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

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Engineering

Turning Ideas Into Reality, Fourth Report of Session 2008-09, Vol. 2: Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

Incorporating HC 470-i-iii, 640-i-iii, 599-i-iii, 1064-i, 1202-i, 1194-i of session 2007-08

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380

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0215529332

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9780215529336

Students and universities

eleventh report of session 2008-09, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

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Students and universities

eleventh report of session 2008-09, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

The Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee calls for urgent changes in the higher education sector in this report examining students' university experience. The report says the current system for safeguarding standards is out of date, inconsistent and should be replaced. The Quality Assurance Agency should be transformed into an independent Quality and Standards Agency with a specific standards remit. The Committee also says that the culture at the top of the sector should change. The Committee found defensive complacency in the leadership of the sector and no appetite to explore key issues such as the reasons for proportional increase in first and upper second class honours degrees in the past 15 years. Support for and treatment of part-time and mature students should be improved - the current system amounts to a form of discrimination. The Government's forthcoming review of fees needs to examine all aspects of support for these students. The report also says: further education colleges should play a larger role in the development of higher education; the Government should help create a credit transfer system which will allow credit earned in one institution to be transferred to another; schemes such as those run by Leeds University for students from disadvantaged backgrounds should be standard practice across the sector; there is a lack of consistency across the higher education sector and codes of practice applying to all institutions receiving public money should be introduced; elements of chance in the admissions process should be reduced so that students get a fairer deal on access to university.

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170

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ISBN 10

0215540719

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9780215540713

Re-skilling for Recovery

After Leitch, Implementing Skills and Training Policies, First Report of Session 2008-09, Vol. 2: Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

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Re-skilling for Recovery

After Leitch, Implementing Skills and Training Policies, First Report of Session 2008-09, Vol. 2: Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

Incorporating HC 505-i-v, session 2008-78

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352

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ISBN 10

0215525779

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9780215525772

DIUS's Departmental Report 2008

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

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DIUS's Departmental Report 2008

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

The Departmental report published as Cm. 7392 (ISBN 9780101739221)

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124

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0215525876

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9780215525871

HC 703 - Government Horizon Scanning

Ninth Report of Session 2013-14

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology,Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee,Andrew Miller

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HC 703 - Government Horizon Scanning

Ninth Report of Session 2013-14

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology,Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee,Andrew Miller

The Government launched its new horizon scanning programme last July, stating that 'in a tight economic climate, it is more important than ever to have the best possible understanding of the world around us, and how that world is changing'. However, as it stands, the new programme is little more than an echo chamber for Government views. The new bodies that have been created consist entirely of Civil Servants, effectively excluding the vast pool of expertise that exists outside of government. The new programme does not even have a dedicated web presence to keep interested parties informed. The programme's failings are partially attributed to a lack of ministerial oversight. The Government also needs to recognise the potential role to be played in the new programme by the Government Office for Science (GO-Science), specifically the Foresight Unit. The relative lack of impact that the Foresight Unit has historically had on policy is largely a result of its non-central location in government. GO-Science is located in the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). In contrast, the new horizon scanning programme is located in the Cabinet Office. In choosing to situate the new horizon scanning programme in the Cabinet Office, the Government has recognised the importance of location and has thereby acknowledged the strength of this argument. GO-Science should be relocated from BIS to the Cabinet Office, where it can play a more central role in the new programme and more effectively fulfill its role of ensuring that the best scientific evidence is utilised across government

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0215071840

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9780215071842

The Draft Apprenticeships Bill

Fourth Report of Session 2007-08; Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Children, Schools and Families Committee

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The Draft Apprenticeships Bill

Fourth Report of Session 2007-08; Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Children, Schools and Families Committee

Apprenticeships have a long history and are widely recognised as a powerful form of learning. Not all young people thrive in a school or college environment: some find the world of work more stimulating and a better place to learn. The Committee welcomes much of the Government's policy in seeking to raise the standards of apprenticeships, including some of the measures contained within the Draft Apprenticeships Bill. They are not convinced, however, that legislation is strictly necessary to achieve this. The real bite in the Draft Bill lies in the duty to be placed on the Learning and Skills Council (and, in due course, successor bodies), to secure the availability of apprenticeship places for anyone above compulsory school age but under 19, and who holds the necessary entry level requirements. Given the economic downturn, they have grave doubts about whether such a statutory duty can be met. Even if it can, it is feared that the pressure of that duty could lead to the quality of apprenticeships being compromised. The Government's aspiration for a greater supply of apprenticeships and greater diversity of entry to apprenticeships is very much dependent for success on the ability of the public sector to take up the apprenticeship challenge. The Committee also strongly supports group apprenticeship schemes, in which an organisation would have links to smaller firms which, singly, would find it difficult to offer the breadth of experience or continuity of work required for an apprenticeship. Concerns about the impact of the challenging economic circumstances extend beyond apprenticeships. The Government plans to introduce legislation in the 2008-09 Parliamentary Session to transfer responsibility for funding and delivering education and training for 16 to 18-year-olds from the Learning and Skills Council to local authorities. This will be a dramatic change and, caution is strongly urged

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021552537X

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9780215525376

Biosecurity in UK Research Laboratories

Sixth Report of Session 2007-08, Vol. 2: Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

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Biosecurity in UK Research Laboratories

Sixth Report of Session 2007-08, Vol. 2: Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

Biosecurity in UK research Laboratories : Sixth report of session 2007-08, Vol. 2: Oral and written Evidence

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188

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0215521250

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9780215521255

House of Lords - Persuasion and Power in the Modern World - HL 150

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: Select Committee on Soft Power and the UK's Influence

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House of Lords - Persuasion and Power in the Modern World - HL 150

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: Select Committee on Soft Power and the UK's Influence

While strong Armed Forces remain the bedrock in safeguarding national interests new kinds of power projection are now required, both to make the use of force ('hard power') more effective and in some instances to replace it with the deployment of what has been labelled 'soft power'. Soft power involves getting what a country wants by influencing other countries to want the same thing, through attraction, persuasion and co-option. The information and digital revolution has transformed international relations and foreign policy, meaning that the UK must win over new and wider audiences to its point of view. The UK must change the way it interacts with other nations and communities, and is well-equipped to do so. Soft power methods of exercising international influence must now be combined with older approaches in order to secure and promote the UK's interests and purposes. To ensure that the exercise of soft power takes its place at the core of government policy-making, the Committee calls for the creation of a new strategic unit at the heart of Government. Its purpose would be to assist the Prime Minister in ensuring all Departments understand the importance of soft power and of upholding the UK's reputation, and in swiftly counteracting any potentially damaging policies or messages. While investing in soft power takes time to produce results, the Committee makes a number of recommendations including that BBC World Service's budget is not reduced any further in real terms and that the British Council is properly resourced to encourage the UK's creative industries

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160

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0108553558

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9780108553554

Educating Tomorrow's Engineers

The Impact of Government Reforms on 14-19 Education, Seventh Report of Session 2012-13, Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee

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Educating Tomorrow's Engineers

The Impact of Government Reforms on 14-19 Education, Seventh Report of Session 2012-13, Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee

In the UK we teach young people to become computer users and consumers rather than programmers and software engineers. This is creating a chronic skills gap in ICT. We need around 82,000 engineers and technicians just to deal with retirements up to 2016 and 830,000 SET professionals by 2020. On the plus side, the Government's proposal to include computer science as a fourth science option to count towards the EBac is welcomed. The Committee also welcomes the EBac's focus on attainment of mathematics and science GCSEs but is concerned that subjects such as Design and Technology (D&T) might be marginalised. A Technical Baccalaureate (TechBac) is being designed but if it is to be a success, schools should be incentivised to focus on the TechBac by making it equivalent to the EBac. Reforms to vocational education following the Wolf Review meant that Level 2 of the Engineering Diploma, a qualification highly regarded, would count as equivalent to one GCSE despite requiring curriculum time and effort equivalent to several GCSEs. The Engineering Diploma, however, is currently being redesigned as four separate qualifications. The Committee also expressed concerns over the Department for Education's (DfE) lack of clarity on its research budget, and use of evidence in decision-making. The DfE needs to place greater focus on gathering evidence before changes to qualifications are made, and must leave sufficient time for evidence to be gathered on the effectiveness of policies before introducing further change. The possibility of gathering evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) should be seriously considered

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142

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0215053419

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9780215053411

House of Commons: Sessional Returns - HC 1

9 May 2012 - 25 April 2013

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons

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House of Commons: Sessional Returns - HC 1

9 May 2012 - 25 April 2013

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons

On cover and title page: House, committees of the whole House, general committees and select committees. On title page: Returns to orders of the House of Commons dated 14 May 2013 (the Chairman of Ways and Means)

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350

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0215062272

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9780215062277

The last report

thirteenth report of session 2006-07, report, together with formal minutes, and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee

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The last report

thirteenth report of session 2006-07, report, together with formal minutes, and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee

On 28 June 2007, the Prime Minister announced changes to the machinery of Government that had an impact upon the select committee system within the House of Commons. As a result, the Science and Technology Select Committee will be dissolved and replaced by a new Innovation, Universities and Skills Select Committee at the beginning of the next session of Parliament. This Report explains the role that the Science and Technology Committee has played within Parliament and the science community. It outlines the Committee's innovations, its impact and concerns regarding future science scrutiny in the House of Commons. It concludes that, in the long term, a separate Science and Technology Committee is the only way to guarantee a permanent focus on science across Government within the select committee system and recommends that the House be given an opportunity to revisit this issue.

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0215037138

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9780215037138

Cross-border provision of public services for Wales

follow-up, tenth report of session 2009-10, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee

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Cross-border provision of public services for Wales

follow-up, tenth report of session 2009-10, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee

Working practices between the UK and Welsh Assembly governments in relation to cross-border policies appear much improved since the Committee's earlier reports on this subject. But a number of outstanding issues remain in transport, health and further and higher education. On transport the Committee welcomes the planned electrification of the Great Western Main Line. However, the Department for Transport appears to have washed its hands of any strategic responsibility for cross-border roads. The A483 is the clearest example of a road vital for travel within Wales but which is not important to the English region in which it is located, and as a result loses out on funding. The Committee stresses the need for comparative data on which to build solid research comparing NHS performance in the devolved nations. More needs to be done to raise public awareness of the differences in services people can expect to receive on both sides of the border. Transparency of information is vital. Research proposals in the UK Government's Higher Ambitions strategy for higher education make no reference to nations other than England, despite the UK-wide research remit of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Committee calls for details about how research funding proposals apply to all four nations.

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200

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0215544536

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9780215544537

Sessional returns

session 2008-09, 3 December 2008 - 12 November 2009

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons

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Sessional returns

session 2008-09, 3 December 2008 - 12 November 2009

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons

On cover and title page: House, committees of the whole House, general committees and select committees

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336

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0215543602

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9780215543608

Widening Participation in Higher Education

Fourth Report of Session 2008-09, Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Public Accounts Committee

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Widening Participation in Higher Education

Fourth Report of Session 2008-09, Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Public Accounts Committee

This 4th report from the Public Accounts Committee (HC 226, session 2008-09, ISBN 9780215526557) follows on from an NAO report on the same topic (HC 725, session 2008-09, ISBN 9780102954203). Participation in higher education has increased since 1999-2000, but particular groups remain under-represented. Men from lower socio-economic backgrounds are significantly under-represented, particularly those from white ethnic backgrounds, as are young people living in deprived. Factors such as socio-economic background, gender, place of residence are all influences on whether an individual attends higher education, with GCSE performance being a strong predictor of higher education participation. Despite£392 million allocated to widening participation in higher education institutions, between 2001-2 and 2007-08, progress has been slow. There is an improving trend overall in the participation of students coming from state schools, low participation neighbourhoods and lower socio-economic backgrounds. Variation exists between universities, with the Russell Group of universities (an association of major research-intensive universities of the United Kingdom, including Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, and the University College London) generally performing poorly. Accountability for performance remains weak as at present the Higher Education Funding Council for England does not require universities to provide information on widening participation activities and expenditure, but this is now going to be reintroduced. Universities have a role to play in widening participation by working with schools to increase the pool of pupils who aspire to participate in higher education. The Committee believes that universities need to target schools in disadvantaged areas to reach those most in need.

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0215526554

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9780215526557

Staying the course

the retention of students on higher education courses, tenth report of session 2007-08, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts

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Staying the course

the retention of students on higher education courses, tenth report of session 2007-08, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts

Around 28,000 full-time and 87,000 part-time students who started first-degree courses in 2004-05 were no longer in higher education a year later. There has been little improvement in student retention since 2001-02, though participation in higher education has increased from around 40 per cent to nearly 43 per cent of 18-30 year olds. Universities have received around £800 million over the last five years to help improve retention and participation. In 2001-02 the Committee concluded (HC 588, ISBN 9780215005496) that there was a need for improvement in several areas: reducing the wide variation in retention rates; funding to support students from low-income backgrounds; tackling skills gaps; supporting disabled students; better information. The Committee's findings in this report include: there has been no reduction in the variation in retention rates; by widening participation in higher education, higher education institutions need to understand the needs of their changing student populations through the use of market research techniques; the Higher Education Funding Council for England should agree clear expectations for planned improvements in retention of students and make it part of any improvement plans; that only about half of part-time students obtain a qualification within six years and there is no specific framework to encourage improvement; that some students feel that academic and pastoral support is limited and does not meet their needs; information on why students withdraw from their courses is not reliable; substantial variations exist between universities in the proportions of students with disabilities that receive the Disabled Student's Allowances.

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021551369X

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9780215513694

Setting Priorities for Publicly Funded Research: 3rd Report of Session 2009-10

House of Lords Paper 104-I Session 2009-10

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. Science and Technology Committee

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Setting Priorities for Publicly Funded Research: 3rd Report of Session 2009-10

House of Lords Paper 104-I Session 2009-10

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. Science and Technology Committee

In its report into how priorities are set for publicly funded research, the Science and Technology Committee calls on the Government to make a clear and unambiguous statement setting out their current research funding commitments and the periods of time over which those commitments will apply. Decisions about funding priorities are complex and require careful judgement about the deployment of funds between competing priorities. The Committee concludes that, in the current policy framework, there is a lack of oversight of the total spend on research which is needed to enable the Government to make coherent, well-founded decisions about the use of public funds to support research. The Committee recommends that: the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) should publish figures annually, broken down by subject area, on all public spending to support research, and make appropriate recommendations to the Prime Minister; he should also attend Treasury meetings at which departmental budgets are considered; departmental CSAs should provide Ministers with timely information in advance of budget negotiations, to ensure that research funding decisions are informed by the best available advice. The Committee was also alerted to problems concerning the funding of cross-departmental research involving multiple funding agencies, including research to meet the grand challenges that society faces. To meet such challenges, the Committee recommends the establishment of specific mechanisms: to identify major cross-cutting policy challenges; and to identify, fund and co-ordinate appropriate responses to such challenges.

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0108472329

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9780108472329

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

tenth report of session 2008-09, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

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Sites of Special Scientific Interest

tenth report of session 2008-09, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

Sites of Special Scientific Interest : Tenth report of session 2008-09, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written Evidence

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0215540697

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9780215540690

The EU's Global Approach to Migration and Mobility

8th Report of Session 2012-13, Report

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee

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The EU's Global Approach to Migration and Mobility

8th Report of Session 2012-13, Report

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee

This report considers the Commission's 2011 Communication on the Global Approach to Migration and Mobility and the UK's participation in EU asylum and immigration measures. As countries in Europe face an ageing population and a declining birth rate, legal third country immigration into the EU will be needed to keep the economy on track and retain Europe's competitiveness in a global market. While Member States should retain primary responsibility for their own migration policies, the EU also has a role to play. As the majority of irregular migrants enter the EU with authorisation and then overstay their visas, rather than crossing the EU's external border by boat or land routes illegally, the EU should adopt a more effective approach in preventing irregular migration. The EU also has a role it can play in refugee management and building capacity in the asylum systems of countries of origin and transit. Moreover, migration policy cannot and should not be the sole concern of interior ministries and a more integrated approach with development and foreign affairs ministries - at the national and EU level - would help maximise the EU's development aims. The reduction of trade barriers with non-EU countries and measures to facilitate remittances, mitigate the effects of brain drain and assist diasporas to contribute to their countries of origin would also be beneficial. The Committee also considers the position of international students in the UK: they should not be subjected to the Government's policy objective of reducing net migration.

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0108493954

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9780108493959

Government reform of higher education

twelfth report of session 2010-12, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Business, Innovation and Skills Committee,Adrian Bailey

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Government reform of higher education

twelfth report of session 2010-12, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Business, Innovation and Skills Committee,Adrian Bailey

This report concludes that the Government's communications strategy on tuition fees could have been more effectively realised. It urges the government to "reconsider funding widening participation in higher education through a programme similar to the 'pupil premium'." The committee also concluded that "focusing financial support on providing money for living costs to students while they are studying would be a more effective means of support than fee-waivers and would be more consistent with the message that students should not be dissuaded from applying to university because of the cost." and recommends that the National Scholarship Programme be refocused accordingly. Furthermore reforms are not yet complete with a number of consultation exercises currently out for responses, including early repayment penalties for loans, the future of student number controls, loans for students studying at alternative providers, "off quota" students and a new regulatory framework for new and alternative providers. The detail to be required in the Key Information Sets has yet to be finalised. There will also need to be changes to both OFFA and HEFCE to reflect their changing responsibilities in higher education. The committee highlights the fact that the new fee regime is to start at the beginning of the next academic year and there is concern that the necessary coherent package of reforms be delivered to that timetable. The report also stresses that the reforms should be implemented as a package and not in a piecemeal way

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021503855X

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9780215038555

The Work of the Committee In 2008-09

Third Report of Session 2009-10, Report, Together with Formal Minutes

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Children, Schools and Families Committee

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The Work of the Committee In 2008-09

Third Report of Session 2009-10, Report, Together with Formal Minutes

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Children, Schools and Families Committee

work of the Committee In 2008-09 : Third report of session 2009-10, report, together with formal Minutes

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0215543173

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9780215543172

Regional Development Agencies and the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill: Oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Business and Enterprise Committee

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Regional Development Agencies and the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill: Oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Business and Enterprise Committee

Regional Development Agencies and the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill : Fourth Report of Session 2008-2009

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456

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0215529065

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9780215529060

The work of committees in 2008-09

second report of session 2009-10, report, together with formal minutes and appendices

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Liaison Committee

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The work of committees in 2008-09

second report of session 2009-10, report, together with formal minutes and appendices

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Liaison Committee

work of committees In 2008-09 : Second report of session 2009-10, report, together with formal minutes and Appendices

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164

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0215544749

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9780215544742

Bridging the Valley of Death

Improving the Commercialisation of Research, Eighth Report of Session 2012-13, Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology,Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee

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Bridging the Valley of Death

Improving the Commercialisation of Research, Eighth Report of Session 2012-13, Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology,Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee

There exists the concept of a valley of death that prevents the progress of science from the laboratory bench to the point where it provides the basis of a commercially successful business or product. The future success of the UK economy has been linked to the success of translating a world class science base to generate new businesses with the consequent generation of UK jobs and wealth. A troubling feature of technology companies in the UK is how many are acquired by foreign owners where the subsequent jobs and wealth are generated outside the UK. It is key that the Government ensure that sufficient capital is available and recommended that the proposed bank for business, possibly in partnership with the Business Growth Fund, be used to promote a bond market for medium sized businesses, thus providing growing small businesses with an additional source of funding. It is also recommended that the Government investigate the potential to require funds to have a proportion of European SME equities. There needs to be a mechanism to support SME's who do disproportionately badly from the current R&D tax credit scheme. The Technology Strategy Board is becoming the focus for government innovation policy and Government should consider how they can resource the TSB to provide local level advice to technology businesses. The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) and the SMART Award scheme would appear to be successful initiatives but lack sufficient funds to meet the demand from companies

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284

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ISBN 10

0215055160

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9780215055163

House of Lords - Select Committee on Science and Technology - HL 76

2nd Report of Session 2013-14

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: Science and Technology Committee

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House of Lords - Select Committee on Science and Technology - HL 76

2nd Report of Session 2013-14

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: Science and Technology Committee

This report includes within its definition of infrastructure not only large and mid-range facilities, but also data, expertise and national capabilities such as those in Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs), for example, the British Geological Survey and the Institute for Animal Health. On PSREs, the Committee expresses concern that the ability of PSREs and National Laboratories to deliver national objectives is being eroded by underfunding. While the Committee is broadly positive about the state of scientific infrastructure in the UK, the Committee warns that a lack of a clear long term strategy and investment plan, with a clear commitment to engagement with international projects, is impairing the UK's ability to remain internationally competitive over the long term. The Committee also found a 'damaging disconnect' between capital investment and funding for operational costs, i.e. that building important large scale infrastructure has been budgeted for, but the costs to keep it running have not. One example cited in the report is the ISIS centre in Oxfordshire, a world-leading base for neutron research. ISIS cost £50 million to build, and has recently doubled in size through a government-funded £145 million investment. Despite this, there was not the budget available to run the site at full capacity, and that it was only being used to two thirds of its potential. This resulted in hundreds of potential experiments not happening, industrial projects losing out and a missed opportunity for UK research.

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0108551504

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9780108551505

Setting priorities for publicly funded research

3rd report of session 2009-10, Vol. 2: Evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: Science and Technology Committee

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Setting priorities for publicly funded research

3rd report of session 2009-10, Vol. 2: Evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: Science and Technology Committee

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520

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010847240X

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9780108472404

House of Commons - Business, Innovation and Skills Committee: Open Access - HC 99-I

Fifth Report of Session 2013-14, Vol. 1: Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Business, Innovation and Skills Committee

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House of Commons - Business, Innovation and Skills Committee: Open Access - HC 99-I

Fifth Report of Session 2013-14, Vol. 1: Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Business, Innovation and Skills Committee

The Government's commitment to increasing access to published research findings and its desire to achieve full open access are welcomed in this report from the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee. However, whilst Gold open access - where authors publish their articles in an open access journal that provides free immediate open access to all of its articles on the publisher's website - is a desirable ultimate goal, focusing on it during the transition to a fully open access world is a mistake. The Government and Research Council UK should reconsider their preference for Gold open access during the five year transition period, and give due regard to the evidence of the vital role that Green open access and repositories have to play as the UK moves towards full open access. (Authors opting for Green open access publish in any subscription journal, and then make their peer-reviewed final draft freely accessible online by self-archiving or depositing the article in a repository (either institutional or disciplinary) upon acceptance for publication.) Other recommendations include: promotion of standardisation and compliance across subject and institutional repositories; mitigation against the impact on universities of paying Article Processing Charges out of their own reserves; introduce a reduced VAT rate for e-journals; non-disclosure clauses should not be used in publishing contracts that include the use of public funds; BIS must review its consultation processes to ensure that lessons are learned from the lack of involvement of businesses, particularly SMEs, in the formation of open access policy

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188

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0215061829

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9780215061829

House of Commons - Business, Innovation and Skills Committee: The Retail Sector: Volume I - HC 168-I

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Business, Innovation and Skills Committee,Adrian Bailey

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House of Commons - Business, Innovation and Skills Committee: The Retail Sector: Volume I - HC 168-I

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Business, Innovation and Skills Committee,Adrian Bailey

The Committee calls for a wholesale review that goes beyond the administration of business rates to examine whether retail taxes should be based on sales rather than the rateable value of a property; whether retail needs its own system of business taxation; and how frequently revaluations should take place. In the interim, the Committee calls for a six months business rates amnesty for businesses occupying empty properties. This would go further than the 50% reduction announced in the Autumn Statement and would encourage new businesses to the High Street. The Committee also recommends that in the interim the Government review whether business rates are more appropriately linked to CPI or RPI and calls for annual increases to be linked to a 12 month average of either RPI or CPI, with a cap at 2%. This would replace the current link to a monthly snapshot of RPI. The Government should provide information on how and how much of the money allocated to the Portas Pilots is being spent. This follows concerns that much of the money allocated to the pilots has not been spent. The Government is also urged to outline the results of its latest STEM skills analysis and outline the action it will take to tackle any skills shortages. The retail sector also needs to encourage more staff to be trained at Apprenticeship Level 3 and above, and consider developing language skills to enhance the international consumers' experience

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0215068904

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9780215068903

Bioengineering

seventh report of session 2009-10, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee

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Bioengineering

seventh report of session 2009-10, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee

This report finds that the UK has an excellent research base but is still failing to maximise its potential by translating research into wealth and health. The road to economic recovery will depend, in part, on exploitation of the UK's research base, which in turn requires efficient translation to generate returns on investments. Some areas of bioengineering, such as stem cells, have clearly benefited from strong Government leadership and support, backed up by generous levels of funding from both the public and private sectors. Others, such as genetically modified (GM) crops, are less well supported and funded. This is curious when GM crops are considered by the Government to be safe and offer potential benefits. GM crops are certainly the poor cousin in the bioengineering family, and we strongly urge the Government to signal its support for GM crops as well as improving the regulatory situation in Europe. Regulation of bioengineering is complex and researchers have found that regulations inhibit research and translation, either because of regulatory complexity (stem cells) or a flawed operation of the regulatory process (GM crops). There are good indications that the UK is learning from past experiences in bioengineering when handling new emerging technologies, such as synthetic biology. The Government and Research Councils have recognised the value of synthetic biology early, and are providing funding. The Committee is also concerned that while research is well funded there is not enough forethought about synthetic biology translation, for example developing DNA synthesis capability, which would provide the UK with an excellent opportunity to get ahead internationally. If this is not addressed, synthetic biology runs the risk of becoming yet another story of the UK failing to capitalise on a strong research base and falling behind internationally.

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240

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0215545265

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9780215545268

Existing Housing and Climate Change

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Communities and Local Government Committee

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Existing Housing and Climate Change

By: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Communities and Local Government Committee

The UK contains more than 26 million homes which, collectively, emitted 41.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2004, representing more than a quarter of the UK's emission of the main greenhouse gas driving climate change. The Government plans that the three million more households to be added to the housing stock over the next 12 years will be as carbon-neutral as modern building methods, technologies and regulation can make them. But the Government must pay as much attention to reducing the carbon footprint of the existing housing stock, given the UK's challenging target of reducing carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050. Domestic energy efficiency measures taken since 1970 have halved what UK domestic energy demand would otherwise be, but the amount of energy used now needs to decline sharply if the target is to be achieved. Chapters examine: regulation and encouragement; financial incentives; energy performance certificates; breaching the barriers to change; newer technologies; older buildings. There are many existing means to achieve rapid reductions in carbon emissions. such as cavity-wall insulation, loft insulation, double-glazing, condensing boilers, more efficient lighting. One problem is that of engaging with a greater proportion of the population and convincing them of the need for action. The proposed Green Homes Service due in late 2008 should provide a one-stop source of information for householders to overcome this "information barrier" to quick, simple and cost-effective action in many homes. The Committee believes that substantial and rapid change is possible if millions of individuals and families can be encouraged to rise to the challenge.

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0215514416

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9780215514417

Scientific advice and evidence in emergencies

third report of session 2010-11, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee,Andrew Miller

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Scientific advice and evidence in emergencies

third report of session 2010-11, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee,Andrew Miller

In this report, the Science and Technology Committee examines how scientific advice and evidence is used in national emergencies, when the Government and scientific advisory system are put under great pressure to deal with atypical situations. The inquiry focused on four case studies: (i) the 2009-10 H1N1 influenza pandemic (swine flu); (ii) the April 2010 volcanic ash disruption; (iii) space weather; and (iv) cyber attacks. While science is used effectively to aid responses to emergencies, the detachment of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) from the National Risk Assessment (NRA) - the key process of risk evaluation carried out by the Cabinet Office - is a serious concern. The Committee recommends that the NRA should not be signed off until the GCSA is satisfied that all risks requiring scientific input and judgements have been properly considered. A new independent scientific advisory committee should be set up to advise the Cabinet on risk assessment and review the NRA. The Icelandic volcanic eruption in April 2010 is a stark example of the lack of scientific input in risk assessment: the risk of disruption to aviation caused by a natural disaster was dropped from the assessment process in 2009, despite warnings from earth scientists. There are concerns over how risk was communicated to the public during the 2009-10 swine flu pandemic are raised in the report, with sensationalised media reporting about the projected deaths from swine flu. The Scientific Advisory Groups in Emergencies, set up to advise government during emergencies, were found to work in an unnecessarily secretive way.

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260

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0215556569

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9780215556561

House of Lords - Science and Technology Select Committee: Waste or Resource? Stimulating a Bioeconomy - HL 141

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: Science and Technology Committee

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House of Lords - Science and Technology Select Committee: Waste or Resource? Stimulating a Bioeconomy - HL 141

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: Science and Technology Committee

The Select Committee report Waste Or Resource? Stimulating A Bioeconomy? (HL 141) advises that the UK could miss out on a massive opportunity to create a flourishing multibillion pound economy from waste. Although there are many kinds of waste generated from a variety of sources, the Lords inquiry looked specifically at waste which contains carbon. Around 100 million tons of carbon-containing-waste are available every year which could potentially be exploited as a resource. While preventing the creation of waste in the first place is a laudable policy goal, it is inevitable that there will always be waste, or unavoidable by-products such as orange peel, coffee grounds or waste gas from factories and power stations. Using cutting edge technologies, wastes such as these can be converted into valuable products such as fuels, flavors and fragrances, plastics, paint or pharmaceuticals. There are environmental benefits to be had from harnessing the was

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0108553450

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9780108553455

The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research

sixth report of session 2009-10, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee

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The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research

sixth report of session 2009-10, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee

The pressure to be seen to be making cuts across the public sector is threatening to undermine both the Government's good record on investment in science and the economic recovery. Whilst the contribution of a strong domestic science base is widely acknowledged, methodological problems with quantifying its precise value to the economy mean that it is in danger of losing out in Whitehall negotiations. Scientists are under increasing pressure to demonstrate the impact of their work and there is concern that areas without immediate technology applications are being undervalued. The Committee believes the Government faced a strategic choice: invest in areas with the greatest potential to influence and improve other areas of spending, or make cuts of little significance now, but that will have a devastating effect upon British science and the economy in the years to come.

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0215545192

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9780215545190

Reorganising central government

By: Great Britain: National Audit Office

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Reorganising central government

By: Great Britain: National Audit Office

Between May 2005 and June 2009, there were over 90 reorganisations to central government. This report finds that these cannot demonstrate value for money, given that most had vague objectives and that costs and benefits were not tracked. The average annual cost of reorganisations is almost £200 million, around 85 per cent of which is for the reorganisation of arms length bodies. Since 1980, 25 central government departments have been created, including 13 which no longer exist. By comparison, in the United States only two new departments have been created over the same period. Central government bodies are weak at identifying and securing the benefits they hope to gain from reorganisation. There is no standard approach for preparing and assessing business cases setting out intended benefits against expected costs. More than half of reorganisations do not compare expected costs and benefits of alternative options, so there can be no certainty that the chosen approaches are the most cost effective. Furthermore, no departments set metrics to track the benefits that should justify reorganisation - making it impossible for them to demonstrate that the eventual benefits outweigh costs. There is no requirement for bodies to disclose the costs of reorganisations after they happen - meaning the true cost of reorganisation is often hidden. The decisions to reorganise departments and arms length bodies are often taken at short notice and with inadequate understanding of what could go wrong.

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0102963614

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9780102963618

Student visas

seventh report of session 2010-11, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Home Affairs Committee

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Student visas

seventh report of session 2010-11, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Home Affairs Committee

This report from the Home Affairs Select Committee cautions the Government against introducing measures which could damage the UK's thriving educational export sector. The Committee remains concerned that a number of the Government proposals could have serious unintended consequences. International students make up 10% of first degree students and over 40% of postgraduate students at UK universities. The international student market, estimated to be worth £40 billion to the UK economy is a significant growth market and the UK is the second most popular destination in the world for international students. The Committee's findings include: the importance of the Post-Study Work route in attracting students to the UK and disagrees with the Government proposal to close it; it suggests alternatives to the Government's proposals on language requirements, specifically a permanent change to the parameters of the student visitor visa so that it can be used as a viable route for all of those attending pre-degree programmes; it supports the Government's proposals to tighten the accreditation of language schools but is concerned that Government approval of the current accreditation bodies has lapsed. The Committee calls for a single streamlined accreditation system and agrees that any cap on student visas is unnecessary and undesirable; the Committee also notes that progress has been made on closing down bogus language schools and supports the Government's intention to crack down on bogus colleges and bogus students but it is not persuaded that students are migrants, as defined by the UN and suggests that students ought to be excluded from net migration numbers. The Committee also raises concerns that the data used in assessing migration figures are not fit for purpose and could inhibit effective policy making.

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204

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The Stationery Office

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ISBN 10

0215557123

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9780215557124

Genomic medicine

2nd report of session 2008-09, Vol. 1: Report

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: Science and Technology Committee

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Genomic medicine

2nd report of session 2008-09, Vol. 1: Report

By: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: Science and Technology Committee

Recent developments in genomic science stemming from the sequencing of the human genome represent a unique opportunity for real advances in medical care and the Government and the NHS must take a range of steps to ensure that these advances are realised. The Government should produce a new White Paper with details on: how the Department of Health will facilitate the translation of advances in genomic science into clinical practice, including the operational changes needed to bring genetic testing into mainstream clinical practice; a roadmap for how such developments will be incorporated into the NHS; proposals for a programme of sustained long-term funding to support these measures. A range of genetic tests are already being used within the NHS to improve the diagnosis and treatment of a range of common illnesses, but there are barriers to the translation of new tests from invention through to use. The Committee looks specifically at the growing market for Direct to Consumer Tests (DCTs) and raises concerns about the effect of consumers receiving DCT results via the internet without proper medical advice to put those results in context. The Committee supports a voluntary code of practice for DCT providers. Ensuring NHS staff have adequate training in genomic medicine will be vital, and training in using and interpreting genetic tests should be an integral part of training for healthcare workers. The report recognises that there are privacy concerns about the retention and use of genetic data as well as apprehension about how the data may be used by, for example the insurance industry.

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132

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0108444511

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9780108444517

Book's by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Innovation, Universities & Skills Committee

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