Wednesday, February 22, 2023
UK Government cuts science research funding
The Independent reports that scientists have criticised the Treasury for taking back £1.6 billion it had allocated for research.
They say that the money, which had been set aside for UK involvement in the EU’s 100 billion euro (£88 billion) Horizon Europe research programme, was returned to the Treasury by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy after the stalemate with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol saw the UK’s association with the flagship research initiative blocked:
News that the funds had been returned was revealed on page 300 of a Treasury document entitled Central Government Supply Estimates 2022-23.
It says there has been a “surrender of unused funding for Horizon and Euratom association” to the tune of £1.6 billion.
In a statement, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine director Professor Liam Smeeth condemned the move.
He said: “The UK has a well-deserved reputation as a world leading powerhouse in health research, recently evidenced by the role we played in the Covid response globally.
“The benefits are huge in health improvement, economic investment and global prestige.
“The lack of agreement to allow the UK to continue to play a full role in the European Union Horizon funding programme severely threatens our success.
“Achieving full association with EU funding programmes must remain the primary aim but will take considerable political skill and determination.
“Until today, the UK Government did – as a constructive interim measure – appear to be committed to filling any shortfalls in science funding that occurred because of Brexit.
“This appears to no longer be the case and we face major cuts in investment in science and innovation as well as continued uncertainty over EU funding.
“The UK’s position as a global scientific leader is severely threatened.
“Once our position is lost, rebuilding the excellence of our science and education base in the face of fierce international competition may be an impossible task.”
So much for the Prime Minister’s assertions about the importance of science and innovation to the UK’s future, and the statement in the Commons by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt that it would be a “profound mistake” to “cut the research and development budget today”.
They say that the money, which had been set aside for UK involvement in the EU’s 100 billion euro (£88 billion) Horizon Europe research programme, was returned to the Treasury by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy after the stalemate with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol saw the UK’s association with the flagship research initiative blocked:
News that the funds had been returned was revealed on page 300 of a Treasury document entitled Central Government Supply Estimates 2022-23.
It says there has been a “surrender of unused funding for Horizon and Euratom association” to the tune of £1.6 billion.
In a statement, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine director Professor Liam Smeeth condemned the move.
He said: “The UK has a well-deserved reputation as a world leading powerhouse in health research, recently evidenced by the role we played in the Covid response globally.
“The benefits are huge in health improvement, economic investment and global prestige.
“The lack of agreement to allow the UK to continue to play a full role in the European Union Horizon funding programme severely threatens our success.
“Achieving full association with EU funding programmes must remain the primary aim but will take considerable political skill and determination.
“Until today, the UK Government did – as a constructive interim measure – appear to be committed to filling any shortfalls in science funding that occurred because of Brexit.
“This appears to no longer be the case and we face major cuts in investment in science and innovation as well as continued uncertainty over EU funding.
“The UK’s position as a global scientific leader is severely threatened.
“Once our position is lost, rebuilding the excellence of our science and education base in the face of fierce international competition may be an impossible task.”
So much for the Prime Minister’s assertions about the importance of science and innovation to the UK’s future, and the statement in the Commons by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt that it would be a “profound mistake” to “cut the research and development budget today”.
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Surrender!,unused!.Weasil words to cover up them sulking over the NI bill.If things do not go the way the Conservatives want they take their ball away TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE COUNTRY.As you say this threatens our position in science institutions
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