Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework on the time university staff spent preparing submissions.

A review of the Research Excellence Framework 2021 is currently underway and is due to be published in 2023. The burden on researchers and other staff will be considered in the evaluation, alongside ensuring that there is sufficient information to identify and reward excellent research outputs and outcomes. The independent Review of Research Bureaucracy published its final report in July (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-research-bureaucracy). The Review made recommendations across the research system to reduce bureaucracy, including funding application processes. The Government is leading a coordinated, sector-wide effort to respond to the recommendations and implement reforms.