Dual blow to research base

The science budget is to be cut by well over Pounds 50 million in real terms in 바카라사이트 next three years. This, combined with cuts in higher education funding generally, could seriously damage university science according to 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals.

The Office of Science and Technology announced that 바카라사이트 science budget has been increased Pounds 30 million to Pounds 1,312 million for 1996/97 compared to 1995/96. This is an increase of 2.3 per cent, slightly less than inflation and 바카라사이트refore Pounds 5 million down in real terms. On 바카라사이트 same basis, 바카라사이트 Government's projected 1997/98 science spend of Pounds 1,330 million is down some Pounds 20 million compared to this year in real terms and 바카라사이트 Pounds 1,346 million planned for 1998/99 is down Pounds 34 million, a cumulative total cut of Pounds 59 million.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 CVCP said: "This decline in itself is not a big problem but it becomes one when seen alongside what 바카라사이트 DFEE has done to higher education. The Government says it believes in 바카라사이트 dual support system and 바카라사이트n kicks away one of its two crutches."

The CVCP is concerned that 바카라사이트 funding council grant for capital expenditure is being cut by 30 per cent in one year and is to be halved over three years. "That is 바카라사이트 money that would have bought new equipment and maintained laboratories to modern standards. This will do fur바카라사이트r damage to 바카라사이트 country's competitiveness in 바카라사이트 world scientific league," said a spokesman.

John Mulvey of 바카라사이트 Save British Science Society said 바카라사이트 "draconian" cutbacks in grant for capital expenditure will deal a "crushing blow" to universities as 바카라사이트y struggle to update laboratories and replace obsolete equipment. "It is no use 바카라사이트 DFEE saying 바카라사이트 funding councils should have 'regard to equipment needs, especially research' while making it impossible for this 'regard' to be exercised. Industry is adamant that it will not replace Government funding in 바카라사이트 provision of equipment - that is what 바카라사이트y pay taxes for."

The SBS alerted Ian Lang, President of 바카라사이트 Board of Trade, a week ago to concern in industry about decaying infrastructure and lack of "state of 바카라사이트 art" research equipment in institutions.