National research integrity committee on the cards

The UK government has said it will consider the establishment of a national research integrity committee to verify that university investigations into research misconduct are properly handled.

In a written response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee’s sixth report on research integrity, the government said it must first be assured that such a committee would “be appropriate in the overall UK context, proportionate and represent value for money”.

“We also need to be clear about the costs and potential benefits, and ensure that such an approach would not lead to a duplication of existing measures and arrangements or risk inconsistent messaging in this area,” it said.