The overarching policy framework for the Research Councils is set by Government. Within this framework, and in keeping with the "Haldane Principle", day-to-day decisions and specifically decisions about research funding are taken by the Research Councils. This means that Government determines, for example, the sum allocated to each Research Council and may take the final decision about participation in major international collaborations, however Government has no involvement in deciding which people or which particular projects are funded.
Each Research Council has governing body called its "Council". The Council body is responsible for setting each Research Councils’ policy, strategy and priorities. It is also accountable for the stewardship of the Council’s budget and the extent to which objectives have been delivered and targets have been met. Council members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, who is answerable to Parliament for the Councils’ activities.
A Performance Management Framework has been implemented to ensure effective planning, monitoring, reporting and delivery of the Research Councils objectives. This framework includes the following elements:
- a Research Council scientific vision or strategic plan which sets outs the Council’s overarching research aspirations and priorities over a 5 year plus period.
- a Research Council delivery plan that sets out priorities and plans for the three years of the Government’s Spending Review cycle.
- a suite of performance metrics (the outputs framework) to measure progress towards the deliverables set out in their delivery plans and scorecards.
Operational Performance
The Research Councils publish a range of reports and information about the outcomes and impacts of the research they fund, as well about their own operational performance. These include and Annual Reports to Parliament and newsletters and magazines.
The 2004 Spending Review introduced a performance management system that will better enable the Research Councils to measure the contribution of the Science Budget to meeting the DTI’s Public Service Agreement (PSA) target and to the UK research base as a whole.
Research Strategies
Each of the Research Councils has a vision or strategic plan which sets outs the Council’s overarching research aspirations and priorities over a 5 year plus period.
These research strategies are developed through extensive consultation with the academic community, and with a wide range of users and stakeholders including relevant Government Departments, the public sector, industry, charities and also the public itself.
The latest plans can be accessed at:
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Progress in delivering the plans is reported each year in each Council’s Annual Report and Accounts.