Press Release - Getting the evidence: Using research in policy
making
16 April 2003
Departments, with the support of the Office of Science and
Technology, have been modernising the way they procure research,
Sir John Bourn, the Head of the National Audit Office, reported to
Parliament today. He made a number of recommendations to continue
that process.
The recommendations arise from a report compiled on behalf of
the National Audit Office by RAND Europe on how government
commission, manage and use research to support service delivery and
improve policy. Civil government departments spent £1.4 billion on
research and development in 1999/2000.
There are three key recommendations. Departments need to be
clear about their strategic research aims and establish coherent
systems for procuring research. They should have a clear
understanding of future research needs and capability and consult
research users to prioritise their requirements.
Secondly, departments need to be proactive and innovative in the
way they disseminate and use research findings. By developing
targeted and innovative ways, Departments will ensure that the
potential impact of research is fully realised.
Departments should identify and share best practice to improve
the effectiveness of commissioning, managing and using research. By
implementing a programme of external reviews and interdepartmental
benchmarking, the Office of Science and Technology will assist
this.
Sir John said:
"I welcome the steps already made to modernise the way
departments procure research. These are encouraging developments.
The recommendations in this report should lead to further
improvements."
Notes for Editors
- Press notices and reports are available from the date of
publication on the NAO website at http://www.nao.org.uk/ Hard copies can
be obtained from The Stationery Office on 0845 702 3474.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General, Sir John Bourn, is the
head of the National Audit Office which employs some 800 staff. He
and the NAO are totally independent of Government. He certifies the
accounts of all Government departments and a wide range of other
public sector bodies; and he has statutory authority to report to
Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which
departments and other bodies have used their resources.
- RAND Europe is an independent not-for-profit policy research
organization that serves the public interest by improving
policymaking and informing public debate. Clients are European
governments, institutions, and firms with a need for rigorous,
impartial, multidisciplinary analysis of the hardest problems they
face. For more information about RAND Europe see http://www.randeurope.org/.
Press Notice 34/03
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