18 April 2003
The government is currently wasting millions of pounds on research commissioned by Whitehall departments because so little of it filters through to policy improvements, auditors have warned on April 16.
But the report by the National Audit Office, Getting the evidence: using research in policy making, also found 'encouraging' signs that Whitehall has modernised the way it procures research from expert groups, universities and internal staff.
Edward Leigh, Public Accounts Committee chair, said: 'Research may be extremely wise and erudite, but it is no use at all if policymakers do not know about it, do not understand it or need something else.'
PFapr2003
