Prospect questions neutrality of think tank report

Scientists' trade union Prospect has questioned the neutrality of a Centre Forum think tank report that calls for more public sector research establishments to be taken out of government ownership or control.

The report, published in November 2011 by the Lib Dem-leaning think tank, said: “The success of some of the privatised establishments, and to some extent those under private management, stems directly from the removal of public sector operating constraints including slow decision making, high overheads and a lack of access to capital.”