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We would like to express our support for the letter from the chairs of research assessment panels ( THES, May 2). We would endorse their concern that the Department for Education and Skills and the Higher Education Funding Council for England have sidelined the assessment process by making subsequent changes. We also share their concern about the impact on research of the decision to reduce severely the funding to 4-rated departments in England and Northern Ireland.

Wyn Grant
Chair, Political Studies Association

Grant Jordan
Chair, Public Administration Committee, JUC