11
We welcome the Government’s commitment to give UK ARPA independence over both operational and strategic...
Recommendation
We welcome the Government’s commitment to give UK ARPA independence over both operational and strategic matters. With that said, there will still be a need for appropriate Government oversight of the organisation’s operations—given that £800 million of public money has been allocated to it—but UK ARPA will require bespoke Government scrutiny arrangements to operate effectively. The Government should set out, drawing on precedents such as scrutiny of the Security Services by the Intelligence and Security Committee, how this oversight will work in practice.
Paragraph Reference
81
Government Response
Acknowledged
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Recommendations 11 (Paragraph 81) and 13 (Paragraph 86) relate to the important balancing act in the establishment of ARIA, between facilitating a high degree of autonomy to allow for dynamic and evolving investment portfolios, while also ensuring sufficient oversight. These are important recommendations, and we hope they are reflected at the heart of the Bill, and in the design of the organisation. We believe the ARIA Bill strikes the appropriate balance with, on the one hand, requirements for the body to produce an Annual Report for Parliament and including Government representatives on ARIA’s Board; and on the other, allowing ARIA necessary agility, for instance, with regards to procurement. Furthermore, the forthcoming Framework Agreement between BEIS and ARIA will again aim to strike a balance, stipulating specific reporting requirements and certain flexibilities within non-legislative processes.
Source
Inquiry
A new UK research funding agency
Report
Third report: A new UK research funding agency
12 Feb 2021
HC 778
Addressee Bodies
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Timeline
Recommendation age
5.3 yrs
Report published
12 Feb 2021