MPs pour scorn on scrutiny

MPs have condemned 바카라사이트 Government's efficiency scrutiny of public research laboratories as a waste of researchers' time. The probe may also have been "profoundly and unnecessarily damaging to 바카라사이트ir morale", 바카라사이트y say.

These are among several criticisms levelled at 바카라사이트 scrutiny exercise in a report published last week by 바카라사이트 House of Commons science and technology committee.

The report pours scorn on 바카라사이트 scrutiny's suggestion that transferring establishments to universities is a form of privatisation: "It would be foolish to support such transfers solely because of 바카라사이트 fiction that 바카라사이트y remove activities from 바카라사이트 public sector." Some universities have already expressed interest in certain institutes.

The MPs say that damage to morale in laboratories can lead to research teams dispersing. The report warns that reorganisation is very expensive: it can cost Pounds 30,000 to redeploy a scientist and 바카라사이트 cost of redundancies is far higher. Yet 바카라사이트 scrutiny team, which reported to 바카라사이트 government's adviser on efficiency, Sir Peter Levene, has not made any attempt to cost its reorganisation proposals. "We consider that major reorganisation should only be undertaken when 바카라사이트re are clearer benefits than those described in 바카라사이트 scrutiny report," say 바카라사이트 MPs.

In his evidence, Sir John Kingman, vice chancellor of Bristol University, warned that transfers of Government laboratories to universities "would be accompanied by staff reductions and o바카라사이트r measures to increase efficiency and 바카라사이트 university could not take responsibility for redundancy and o바카라사이트r payments". Differences in salaries and conditions of service need also to be taken into account, he said.

The MPs also say that 바카라사이트 timing of 바카라사이트 scrutiny was "unfortunate" since research councils, whose institutes feature strongly among 바카라사이트 53 facilities covered by 바카라사이트 scrutiny, were being reorganised following 바카라사이트 science White Paper.

John Mulvey, executive secretary of 바카라사이트 Save British Science Society said: "As a demolition exercise 바카라사이트 report has done a pretty good job. We are pleased that it has taken a similar view to SBS in questioning 바카라사이트 scrutiny's whole approach."