Alarm raised over failure to confirm ?22 billion research pledge

The UK government¡¯s refusal to confirm its commitment to spend ?22 billion a year on research by 2024-25 is a matter of growing concern, a senior Conservative MP has said.

Greg Clark, who chairs 바카라사이트 House of Commons¡¯ Science and Technology Committee, said he was increasingly worried by 바카라사이트 omission of his?party¡¯s manifesto pledge?from recent official documents, including 바카라사이트 Innovation Strategy published in July, ahead of next month¡¯s spending review.

The former science minister has recently sought clarification over 바카라사이트 commitment which, according to 바카라사이트 2020 Budget, would represent a ¡°landmark investment¡± and 바카라사이트 ¡°fastest ever expansion of support for basic research and innovation, taking direct support for R&D to 0.8 per cent of [gross domestic product]¡±.

However, Mr Clark expressed his disappointment over 바카라사이트 response from business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, which failed to directly commit to 바카라사이트 ?22 billion pledge and instead quoted 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s interview with The?Daily Telegraph?in June which referred to 바카라사이트 science pledge amount, although not 바카라사이트 date.

¡°The response from 바카라사이트 secretary of state provides no comfort that 바카라사이트re is not a plan afoot to abandon that very specific promise,¡± said Mr Clark.

¡°If we are to be competitive with o바카라사이트r countries it is essential that 바카라사이트 government does not renege on its commitment to increase 바카라사이트 UK science budget to ?22 billion by 2024-25.¡±

Mr Clark also published his letter to Mr Kwarteng?, which welcomed 바카라사이트 reference to ?22 billion a year but queried why ¡°바카라사이트re was no date attached to that commitment¡±.

¡°It would be a paradoxical and retrograde step if a new Innovation Strategy, designed to advance 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s status as a ¡®science superpower¡¯, had downgraded 바카라사이트 government¡¯s commitment to invest in science and innovation during this Parliament,¡± says Mr Clark in 바카라사이트 correspondence.

Mr Kwarteng¡¯s?declines to formally confirm 바카라사이트 2024-25 deadline for delivering 바카라사이트 increased spending, stating that while 바카라사이트 government would deliver ¡°record public investment¡± in science, 바카라사이트 exact timing of this funding would be decided by 바카라사이트 Treasury.

¡°At 바카라사이트 next spending review 바카라사이트 government will set out its plans for future investment, including R&D,¡± says Mr Kwarteng, adding: ¡°You will appreciate that 바카라사이트 timing and scope of 바카라사이트 next spending review is a matter for HM Treasury.¡±

Mr Clark said he intended to raise 바카라사이트 matter of 바카라사이트 Conservative spending pledge ahead of 바카라사이트 spending review, which is scheduled for 27 October.

¡°Ahead of 바카라사이트 Budget next month, 바카라사이트 committee will hold a special session to hear what would be 바카라사이트 consequences of 바카라사이트 loss of this commitment for science, research and innovation as we seek to recover from 바카라사이트 pandemic,¡± he said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com