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Press Release - Getting the evidence: Using research in policy making

16 April 2003

• Full Report - Getting the evidence: Using research in policy making

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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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