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As part of its inquiry into the research assessment exercise, the House of Commons science and technology select committee will today take oral evidence from the University of East Anglia.

Normally, these sessions take place in public at the Palace of Westminster, and journalists are tipped off that the committee is taking evidence. On this occasion, only the chairman and the committee clerk will be present to hear evidence. Moreover, the pair will travel to the University of East Anglia to do it.

Surely the arrangement has nothing to do with the fact that the committee is chaired by Ian Gibson, MP for Norwich North and a former dean of science at the University of East Anglia?