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The Chancellor Philip Hammond, has announced the spring budget.
Prof. Paul Hardaker, Chief Executive of IOP, said:
“This statement provided further evidence of the confidence that the government has in the strength of our world-leading research base. The £270m to accelerate the development of disruptive technologies such as batteries to power electric vehicles as well as the commitment to fund 1,000 new PhDs in STEM subjects recognise the transformative power of research in creating jobs, economic growth and improved health and wellbeing. Our success in this is determined by the support and development we give to our researchers at our research establishments, in industry or in academia, wherever in the world they come from. This is key for the UK to remain the place to be for world-class science.
“This statement also appears to mark something of a watershed moment for technical education in the UK. We wholeheartedly support the strong commitment being given to the development of technical training routes, through the introduction of T-levels, and we look forward to working with the government to ensure that the courses align successfully with physics-based occupations to support our young people.
“The study of physics can open up a wide range of opportunities whatever route our young people take through the education system – whether, for example, in medical technology, broadcast engineering or modelling logistics – and T-Levels give us an opportunity to ensure that we are making best use of all our talents and skills.”
Dr Ruth McKernan, Chief Executive of Innovate UK, said:
“The Chancellor’s announcement today is a great example of how the Industrial Strategy challenge fund will deliver the science that business needs. The first three challenge areas are: developing revolutionising battery technology, getting innovative medicines to patients more quickly and developing robots for use in hazardous environments. The UK has scientific expertise in these areas and we have excellent companies ready and willing to translate the technology into business growth across the UK.
“The Challenge fund is like nothing we have seen before in the UK, and it has enormous potential to deliver. These challenges are just the start and Innovate UK and the Research Councils are already working together, building on the evidence we’ve gathered from businesses across the country to look at the next tranche of support we can provide to get the UK’s researchers and businesses working together and firing on all cylinders.”
Prof. Philip Nelson, Chair of Research Councils UK, said:
“The Chancellor’s announcements are most welcome. Long-term funding for research and developing high-skilled research talent which is vital to the UK’s future as a science power and continuing to feed the pipeline that transforms research into products and services. The UK is at the fore in many aspects of these fields, but countries across the globe are putting effort and resource in too, so these investments are strategically significant.”
Commenting on the sugary drinks levy aspect of the Budget, Dr Amelia Lake, dietitian and public health nutritionist at Durham University, said:
“This is a good thing! The fact that reformulation is occurring can only be a positive thing. Hopefully reformulation spreads to other food items and not just drinks. We have seen success with reformulation with regards to salt, so I see this as good news. However it remains a projection – so we will see.”
Prof. Will Stewart, Vice President, Institution of Engineering and Technology, said:
“The Budget investment in a 5G technology hub is welcome – as is the Government’s announcement today of a 5G strategy outlining an integrated approach to combining fibre and wireless networks to deliver 5G.
“5G has the potential to transform the UK economy, modernise industry and support the fast-growing digital social space so a bold and long-term strategy from Government is vital.
“But it’s important to stress that the 5G investment announced today will not come anywhere close to bridging the investment gap needed to deliver 5G across the UK – so the Government Strategy’s recognition that regulatory modernisation is needed to make the final bill of delivering 5G more affordable, for example by enabling operators to share networks, is pivotal.
“The biggest challenge for Government will be improving coverage for all, as 5G cannot transform what it doesn’t cover. And achieving universal coverage for the UK, outside high-capacity urban areas, will not be affordable or achievable without regulatory change.
“Ultimately, delivering 5G is not a flash in the pan to be achieved in 2020 but a journey demanding deep and sustained levels of cooperation between governments, regulators, operators, vendors and vertical industries.”
Dr Sarah Main, Executive Director of CaSE, said:
“This is good news for science – but it will be important to see that plans are done well. Government must work in consort to enable these plans to really fly.”
“Complementing investments in R&D with a focus on technical skills and PhD level training is a welcome move. Science and engineering organisations have been highlighting shortages in technically-skilled staff for many years. The Government’s reforms of technical education provide a ray of hope for our scientific companies, so it will be important to ensure the reforms are sufficiently resourced, seen to completion, and aligned with the industrial strategy in order to deliver on that hope.”
“The first wave of allocations of the new money for R&D are welcome, as is the focus on attracting high level talent through PhD training and fellowships. The Government must ensure that its immigration policy works in harmony with its aims to attract international talent. While moving to enshrine the principle of ‘dual support’ in law, Government should also be mindful that the allocations of money for specific initiatives should be balanced with the unhypothecated funding that is such a valued part of the UK’s research strength. We will be looking to the allocation of the remaining new R&D money for 2017-18 to fulfill that balance.”
“Finally, the Chancellor seems heartfelt in his intention to make education reforms work for everyone, but we must challenge Government to take a hard look at the substantial evidence on education models and explain their policy decisions. That is surely part of their duty to spend public money well. Science is a costly subject to teach at school in terms of equipment and space. Science tends to suffer in schools facing budget squeezes. So, I encourage the Government to fund science in existing schools well so that their education policies will complement and amplify their success in technical skills reform.”
Mike Thompson, Chief Executive of ABPI, said:
“Today’s Budget underlines the importance of taking a coherent approach to incentivise the development and growth of the pharmaceutical industry in the UK.
“The Chancellor’s confirmation of funding to develop medicines manufacturing technologies and develop STEM skills is very welcome. However, what is missing from today’s Budget are measures to make the treatments and medicines we discover and develop in the UK, available to patients here.
“Right now, for every 100 European patients who can access new medicines in the first year of launch, on average just 15 UK patients receive the same.
“We are committed to work with Government on the upcoming industrial strategy for Life Sciences, which is the best chance we have to reverse this.
“To be effective the industrial strategy must set out a clear way forward for improving patient access, alongside supporting high quality jobs and attracting greater inward investment.”
Prof. Dame Ann Dowling OM DBE FREng FRS, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, says:
“I very much welcome the Chancellor’s announcements on research and innovation in today’s Budget. Investing in research and development, notably through the new Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, will help enable effective collaboration between industry and academia to create significant competitive advantage from the UK’s world-leading research in many areas of engineering and science, from artificial intelligence and robots to batteries for electric cars and novel medicines.
“I am also pleased to see the government’s emphasis on empowering the UK workforce with appropriate skills for the industries of the future. The new funding and consolidation of further education qualifications and apprenticeships is much needed, as is enhanced provision for PhD places and research posts in technical subjects. Engineering skills are absolutely key to the success of the industrial strategy – and it is well known that the engineering profession is short of the highly qualified people it needs at all levels.
“Improving productivity across the country is vital, and I am glad to hear of measures from the National Productivity Investment Fund to enhance digital infrastructure and tackle traffic congestion. Engineering currently underpins at least 20% of UK gross value added, and the changes announced today will help us to grow that contribution.”
Jon Prichard, Chief Executive of IChemE, said:
“This was a budget speech delivered against a backdrop of great uncertainty, brought on by Brexit. The Chancellor was right to highlight once again Britain’s relatively poor productivity record compared with our major competitors. Substantial investment in training and infrastructure is needed, and chemical engineers eagerly await the emergence of the government’s £23 billion industrial strategy.
“Three parts of the speech immediately stand out.
“As usual the devil is in the detail; nonetheless IChemE will continue to work closely with other professional engineering institutions to provide the strongest possible evidence base to support effective government policy-making.”
* https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spring-budget-2017-documents/spring-budget-2017
Declared interests
Dr Amelia Lake: “Paid employment or self-employment – Durham University & Fuse.
Grant funding NIHR SPHR (current).
Voluntary appointments BNF scientific committee.
Memberships BNF, BDA, Nutrition Society, Association for Nutritionists, ASO.”
None others received.