The Council have published a short Notice (Reporter, 2005-06, p. 647) in response to the remarks made at the Discussion of this Report on 16 May 2006 (Reporter, 2005-06, p. 657) and submitted a Grace to the Regent House (Grace 3 of 24 May 2006) for the approval of the recommendations in the Report. They referred to the General Board the remarks made on the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). The General Board have now responded as follows:
In her remarks, Professor G. R. Evans drew attention to the identification, in the 2005 Allocations Report, of a requirement for funding to support measures that would enhance the University's submission to the next RAE. Provision of £2m for 2005-06 was made for this purpose but no firm projection of expenditure thereafter could be given at that stage since this was dependent upon the outcome of Councils of the Schools' assessment of academic cases put forward by Faculties and Departments. As a matter of prudence, however, the Board expressed the expectation that further financial support would be required in the immediate following years. The Board's assessment of Schools' priorities is now complete and the 2006 and 2007 Allocations Reports will include full provision for funds to support successful RAE-related bids. As Professor Evans points out, the measures approved will address a variety of circumstances which have arisen mainly as a result of unusual age profiles or patterns of resignations in Faculties and Departments.