October 20, 2010

expert reaction to spending review

The government today announced its strategy to make £83 billion in spending cuts over four years to bring down the national deficit, although the science budget was largely spared from drastic cuts. Leading figures in science give their reactions.

Sir Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, said:

“I am delighted that the Government has recognised the huge importance of science to the future prosperity and health of the UK economy and people.

“The Wellcome Trust looks forward to continuing to work with the Government across our range of partnerships, and we particularly welcome the announcements in relation to the Diamond Light Source and the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation.

“The Government has listened to the voices of the science community who argued that continued investment in science was vital to the UK’s future success. It is now up to the science community to ensure it delivers on this crucial vote of confidence.”

Professor Sir John Bell, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said:

“In this period of substantial public sector cuts the Chancellor has recognised the fundamental role science will play in economic recovery. Protecting spending on health research and science means that the UK can continue to make extraordinary contributions to the translational science agenda.

“Now is the time to focus on the funds that will be available in the coming years and to ensure that these funds are spent effectively. We must maintain the ability to regenerate key areas when more funding becomes available. This will allow the UK to remain a competitive part of the international research endeavour and exploit opportunities for support from industry and charities both in the UK and overseas.”

Bob Ward, Policy and Communications Director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at London School of Economics and Political Science, said:

“The freezing of the Science Budget will mean that it escapes bigger cuts than other areas of public spending. The Science Minister deserves praise for convincing the Treasury that support for our world-class researchers is essential to ensure future economic growth and prosperity. However, the Science Budget freeze means that the Government’s investment will be standing still over the next four years while our international competitors will be increasing the pace of their spending on research and development. It is also not clear at this stage how efficiency savings of £324 million per year, about 7 per cent of the Science Budget, will be achieved within the next four years. Nor is it clear how the spending of the higher education funding councils on research will be affected by cuts in support for universities. Until these issues are clarified, we cannot be sure that the UK’s world class research base will be safe.”

Sir John Beddington CMG FRS, Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government, said:

“I am delighted by the Government’s decision to protect the science and research budget. This is a genuine signal that the Government recognises that science and research are vital in driving growth and securing a strong economic recovery.

“The “frozen”/flat cash budget settlement for science and research needs to be put in context. This is a major success in the current position and will allow us to sustain the science and engineering base and build for the future.

“The UK has a world leading tradition of excellence. This month for example we have seen UK scientists awarded Nobel prizes both in Physics and medicine, as well as Economics. The UK is also the most productive research nation in the G8 producing 14% of the most highly-cited papers, 9% of world research publications; whilst making up only 1% of world population.

“I and my network of chief scientific advisers in Government, together with our external partners have been working with Vince Cable, David Willetts and Professor Adrian Smith to ensure political decision-makers understand the importance of science and research in leading our economic recovery.

“The Prime Ministers’ words in the house last week – “It is vital that we retain a good science budget and invest in our science base” have been backed by action.

“I urge the Scientific Community to respond positively to this signal of the value the government places in its role in the economy. We must now work to ensure priorities are recognised and public money is used effectively to enhance the UK economy and international standing as a world leader.”

Mike Spyer, President, The Physiological Society, said:

“It would be naïve to think that the science budget could be entirely ring fenced from the current round of budget cuts. Freezing the science budget is perhaps the best that could have been expected. Nevertheless the cumulative impact will be significant if the freeze extends beyond 2015 and the details of annual allocation will be critical: Government must protect and increase allocation of funds to resource-intensive laboratory-based education and research. If the UK is going to sustain its excellence in physiology research and education it is critical that investment increases again after the structural deficit is addressed.”

Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society, said:

“The flat cash settlement for the core science budget is very welcome news in the context of this extremely tough Spending Review. The government has recognised the importance of sustaining the international standing of UK science in a context where other nations are forging ahead. The support of science is crucial not only to the strength of our education system, but to economic recovery and the solution of global problems. There remain areas of concern, especially with regard to capital spending, and the funding of universities. But this outcome enhances our optimism that such issues can be addressed on the basis of a genuine realisation that it is in the UK’s interests to remain among the world leaders in key areas of science and innovation.”

Dr Evan Harris, the former Liberal Democrat Science Spokesman, said:

“The science community will be relieved by this settlement, but we know that even 10% real terms cuts will be painful, will need reversing as soon as the fiscal position improves, and we must watch out for the impact of any cuts in capital spending or in R&D budgets across Government.”

Lord David Sainsbury, former Science Minister, said:

“I welcome today’s settlement for science which recognises the key role that science and innovation play in the economy and in solving the global challenges this country faces. I have every confidence that the UK’s scientific community will respond positively to the government’s investment in them over the next five years, and will make a major contribution to our economy and society.”

Professor Simon Gaskell, Principal of Queen Mary, University of London, said:

“The flat-cash settlement for science is much better news than was feared and suggests that the arguments for the fundamental economic importance of scientific research have been heard and at least partly understood. Significant challenges remain but it is important that universities, collectively and individually, emphasise that the UK remains an outstanding environment for the conduct of research.”

William Cullerne Bown, Founder of Research Fortnight, said:

“The Government has accepted the principle that science and technology are an engine of growth. For this Coalition that is going to be a voyage of discovery. Since the election there has been a big question over where the growth will come from. Today they seem to have found the beginnings of an answer.”

Prof Peter Weissberg, Medical Director, British Heart Foundation, said:

“Immediate reaction? Relief that science has been spared the deepest of cuts. Followed swiftly by the realisation that even at about 10 per cent down, we’ll be playing catch-up in an international field which could see UK science left behind.

“We will have to wait before the full picture becomes clear, but it’s likely charities will now come under greater pressure to fund more medical research. Maintaining a strong Charity Research Support Fund for universities is therefore vital to ensure we can continue to fund life-saving science in partnership with both the Government and universities.

-,The British Heart Foundation understands that science funding will remain constant in cash terms over the next four years, under the terms of the Government’s Spending Review. When inflation is taken into account, this is a real-terms reduction of less than 10 per cent.

-,Charities invest over a £1 billion each year in vital medical research. (AMRC figure)

-,It is estimated that each pound invested by the taxpayer or charity donor in research into cardiovascular disease produces a stream of benefits every year ‘in perpetuity’ equivalent to 39p. (From: ‘Medical Research: What’s it worth? Estimating the economic benefits from medical research in the UK.’, Health Economics Research Group Brunel University, Office of Health Economics RAND Europe. November 2008).”

Dr Gail Cardew, Head of Programmes, The Royal Institution, said:

“It is encouraging that the science budget will be maintained given the critical role that research and innovation will play in the UK’s economic recovery over the next decade. While it is still a cut in real terms, this decision is a significant vote of confidence in the UK’s scientific community and the contribution it makes.”

Dr Mark Downs, CEO of the Society of Biology, said:

“A 10% cut over four years is a significant blow to the UK’s competitiveness. The Government has failed to recognise what all Charities know, an economic downturn is the time to invest in fundraising to ensure future prosperity. It is Research and Development, coupled with skilled people that will deliver growth. Our international competitors have recognised that: the coalition Government has yet to fully accept that reality.

“The Browne review was set up to ensure investment in our Universities not to simply substitute Government funding. Biology is at the heart of, health, the environment, food security, biodiversity and climate change. There is no cheap option for teaching it well. Hands on practical work in the laboratory or field must continue. We urge the Government to better recognise the differential costs between Degrees. Accreditation of research based Degrees must play a central role in ensuring specific Degrees meet the needs of employers and expectations of students, including high level practical training. The additional cost of this must be recognised.”

Lord Krebs, Chairman of the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee, said:

“I very much welcome this news. The coalition has recognised that investing in the science base is a key element of economic recovery, and that it is important to maintain the UK’s position at the very top of the international science league.”

Malcolm Grant, President and Provost of University College London, said:

“The quality – and value for money – of British science is outstanding. The Chancellor’s recognition of its economic value is truly welcome. I hope that even with the reduced funding that this announcement implies, Britain can continue to train and recruit the best in the world and to lead in scientific discovery, innovation, improving the lot of mankind and the planet.”

Professor Colin Blakemore, former head of the Medical Research Council, said:

“It is wonderful to learn that Government has listened to the scientific community. Collectively we have made the case that funding science is not a cost but a way to invest in creating a stronger economy which is the best way to guarantee the recovery that will benefit everyone. It will now be important to maintain the dialogue with government as it reviews budgetary commitments for the future.”