What do you think about Nesta?

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The National Audit Office has decided to look into the workings of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, which was set up in 1998 with a £200m endowment fund from the national lottery. Nesta has already been the subject of parliamentary scrutiny by the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, which passed some less than favourable comments last year (see Lottery Monitor February and March 2003). Despite this, parliament approved a top-up of £95m for Nesta in January, to be taken from a future round of NOF spending.

Now the NAO has decided to report on ‘the effectiveness with which Nesta has invested, distributed and monitored its funding’. In particular the inquiry will look at:

• awareness of Nesta
• how Nesta attracts applications under its different programmes
• how it decides on awards l how it supports awardees
• arrangements for monitoring and evaluation of projects and programmes
• investment decision making
• and issues arising from Nesta being funded via an endowment. 

The NAO invites anyone who has an interest in or has had dealings with Nesta to comment. Please send your views to nestacomments@nao.gsi.gov.uk. Or to Nesta comments, Room C516, National Audit Office, 157-197 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9SP. 

The closing date for comment is 31 July 2003 and the NAO expects to issue its report in late 2003.