July 12, 2004

scientists respond to Government spending review

Scientists reacted to Chancellor Gordon Brown’s announcement of £1 billion extra funding for science in his comprehensive spending review.

Professor Ian Diamond, speaking on behalf of Research Councils UK, said:

“We continue to deliver world-class research in the UK and to punch above our weight in scientific excellence, but increasingly the infrastructure has been creaking in terms of long-term support for facilities and for bringing-on the next generations of researchers.

“The new framework announced today balances the need for money for new front-line research projects, with the need to ensure that our research base is sustainable – with transparent costings, infrastructure investment and more support to develop talented young scientists- and delivers for the economy through knowledge transfer.

“Broadly speaking, government has listened to the Research Councils and acted on key messages about the importance of basic research. This reverses previous short-term approaches to funding.

“The new framework recognises that research requires long-term investment. At a time when businesses and markets are increasingly cautious about investing in research that has no immediate return on investment, publicly funded research becomes incredibly important to underpin the pool of knowledge that enriches our society in so many unpredictable ways.”

Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust, said:

“The spending review will give added strength to partnership arrangements that exist between Government and charities. It will allow continued support for research and innovation and will create the right framework for UK science to retain its premier position at the forefront of development.

“As an independent funder of world class research in UK universities we will be extending our investments in clinical research and developing public awareness as well as boosting international research and aid.

“This is good news all round for science and public health.”

Peter Cotgreave, Director, Save British Science, said:

“There is much in this that appears to be genuinely good news for the science community. We’re particularly pleased that new money includes extra resources to fund projects fully, and that the DfES budget is rising faster than the OST budget, to reverse the gap that has been building up in recent years. But at first sight, there does not appear to be any substantial new money to recruit and retain the best people, which means we are in danger of having fantastically well-equipped labs but not being able to attract the world-class people to work in them.”

Simon Best, Chairman of Ardana Biosciences, said:

“This is a significant increase for spending in science, an area in which it is essential for the UK to remain globally competitive. Given the scale of competition from Asia, US and Europe it is important that the Government should consult key stakeholders to ensure the spending is targeted appropriately.”

Lord Robert Winston, Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College, said:

“It is pleasing to see the excellent work of the research councils, working for the welfare of science in Britain, getting the recognition they deserve. It is a pity that health service research related to patients has not been earmarked, but hopefully we can persuade the treasury of the importance of this in due course.”

Professor Sir Gareth Roberts, President of the Science Council, said:

“I am delighted that the Government has injected more urgency into addressing the problems associated with the supply of scientists and engineers. Deregulating the salaries of advanced skills teachers and providing substantial additional funding for better funded, longer research studentships in key areas are two examples that signal their determination to implement the recommendations of my report ‘SET for Success’. The Review should, however, have given more emphasis to the fact that the crisis in schools lies more within the physical sciences and mathematics rather than other areas of science.”

Sir John Sulston, Nobel prize winner, said:

“I am delighted to see additional funds going into science, which is so important for the culture and well-being of our country. Crucially, part of the extra support is for research that is not market driven. Such research provides the fundamental knowledge on which future prosperity will grow and provides the medical advances that will build a more equitable world, a goal near to the Chancellor’s heart, as we heard from the Vatican conference on Friday.”

Dr Julia King, chief executive of the Institute of Physics, said:

“We support the Government’s vision for British science and want to help achieve it. To this end, we must create a society at ease with science, engineering and technology, and one which welcomes scientific research and technological development. Education, education, education lies at the heart of this. The first step is to invest in the infrastructure of school science teaching and university physics departments and to foster a community in Britain that is welcoming to science.”

Professor Paul Murdin, Royal Astronomical Society, said:

“The increases potentially mean more young people being trained as scientists. It is up to the research councils to develop programmes to attract them, like Britain’s program to explore the planets. In addition, we hope that we will be able to partake in the European Space Agency AURORA programme with some of the new money.”