UK Research and Innovation: Ethnic Minorities

Lord Patel Excerpts

Monday 15th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Vallance of Balham (Lab)]

UKRI is clear that, when it allocates grants, particularly for the studentships into doctoral training centres, those organisations should consider increased participation and any disadvantages on the grounds of ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status or caring responsibilities. There are a number of schemes specifically designed to do that—and a number more were laid out in the White Paper—and the analysis of previous schemes has shown that they do have an effect. I referred to one from 1995, which had a very dramatic effect.

[Lord Patel (CB)]

My Lords, as someone who cannot claim to have had his career held back, can I also say that the evidence is what is important here? It was evidence that scientists from ethnic minorities were adversely judged, despite their talent and the quality of their application, that led to this necessary positive action. The data clearly shows that. This is based on data, not on any ideological measure.

[Lord Vallance of Balham (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for that comment, and I agree with it.