Lib Dems Join Tories in Questioning Impact Assessment

The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, has outlined his party's aims for science and research. Among the list are some thoughts on research funding. He said that funding should be allocated according to 'broader priorities' rather than being 'distorted by narrow impact assessments.' In addition, he expressed some concern over the impact agenda, and in particular the REF. He stated that he wanted to find a way to assess research that did not damage fundamental science.

Overall, his speech to the Royal Society was short on detail, and he did not go as far as the Tories in saying that they would delay the REF. However, it did demonstrate that he seemed to be thinking more along Tory lines than Labour.