Volume 2: Science
Part 2: Commissioning and funding of research, 1986-96
The Department of Health (DH)
Introduction
Funding sources
The Policy Research Programme
Basic research was the responsibility of the MRC

Introduction

6.120 Research commissioned directly by DH was policy-driven, while the MRC focused on basic and science-led research. Before 1991, DH had a part-time Chief Scientist, whose role was to advise on the scientific aspect of the Department's work and its R&D policy and programme. The Chief Scientist was supported by a Deputy Chief Scientist and Director of Research Management (a single post), and by a Research Management Division comprising administrative branches and several professional branches dealing with medical, social, nursing and other aspects of the research programme. From 1 January 1991, a full-time Director of Research and Development was appointed, with the initial task of developing and taking forward a comprehensive multi-disciplinary R&D strategy for the . ¹

Funding sources

6.121 DH had direct and indirect access to a number of government-financed budgets to fund the research it needed to address areas of concern and provide the evidence base for policy formulation and evaluation. The main budgets available for health research were as follows:

1. the Medical Research Council (described above);
2. the Department's own Policy Research Programme;
3. the NHS R&D programme; and
4. non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) that carried out research to support their own functions - eg, the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control.

The Policy Research Programme

6.122 The Department's Policy Research Programme addressed particular policy problems and needs relating to the NHS, public health and social services. Spending under the Programme rose from £15 million in 1988 to £27 million in 1996. ²

6.123 Needs for research funding were identified directly by Ministers or senior officials and arose from policy considerations. Prioritisation was achieved through a strategic user group, the Departmental Research Committee, made up of senior policy officials and chaired by the Director of Research and Development. Once issues had been prioritised, research requirements were formulated into a specification and researchers were invited to submit proposals. These were peer-reviewed by academics selected by the Department before contracts were let.

Basic research was the responsibility of the MRC

6.124 DH did not undertake or commission basic biomedical research itself. This was funded by the MRC, whose remit and organisation are described above, together with the Concordat between it and the Health Departments. Apart from being represented on the MRC Council, DH was involved in the appointment of the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of MRC Boards and in the process of filling membership vacancies, and (with the other Health Departments) could nominate at least three independent scientific members to take a particular interest in its priorities. ³

6.125 DH actively identified NHS and wider Health Department R&D needs and priorities (with MRC assistance where appropriate) and commissioned and funded work in priority areas. It also asked the MRC to develop proposals in areas in which the latter had a particular expertise; these might be funded by the Health Departments or by the MRC. In addition, DH participated in MRC strategic planning. The MRC considered proposals within its remit in the light of DH's views of NHS needs and priorities, and responded to those needs by developing its own initiatives.

6.126 The coordination of strategic planning was facilitated by DH attendance at meetings of the MRC Strategy Development and Awards Advisory Groups, while the MRC attended meetings of the Departmental Research Committee. Programmes were coordinated by regular contacts.

6.127 Coordination was also required between science and policy. DH was the primary customer for much MRC research and therefore had to be aware of the wider implications of scientific developments in the MRC's remit. The Concordat required the MRC to alert DH to relevant developments in basic science. For its part, DH identified areas within the MRC's remit where development of new and existing research could help the achievement of departmental objectives.