Budget 2011: Osborne¡¯s bank raid benefits science

George Osborne, Chancellor of 바카라사이트 Exchequer, said 바카라사이트 additional money had been found from 바카라사이트 new levy on banks and would go to facilities that had been earmarked as priorities by 바카라사이트 science and engineering research councils.

The centres receiving 바카라사이트 investment are: 바카라사이트 Babraham Research Campus, a biosciences facility in Cambridge; 바카라사이트 Norwich Research Park for environmental and life sciences; 바카라사이트 International Space Innovation Centre at Harwell in Oxfordshire; and 바카라사이트 National Science and Innovation Campus in Daresbury, Cheshire.

The Campaign for Science and Engineering welcomed 바카라사이트 announcement, but said 바카라사이트 money had to be seen in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ?1.4 billion cut to capital spending on science.

¡°The extra funding announced today could be a first step on 바카라사이트 path to making science and engineering pivotal to growth. But labs across 바카라사이트 country are going to be struggling to make ends meet following 바카라사이트 cuts announced last year,¡± said Imran Khan, CaSE¡¯s director.

Mr Osborne also announced greater tax breaks for small companies engaged in research, plans to fund 12 more vocational university technical colleges for 14- to 19-year-olds, and up to 50,000 extra apprenticeships.

Pam Tatlow, chief executive of 바카라사이트 million+ group of post-1992 universities, said 바카라사이트 apprenticeships were welcome, but suggested that 바카라사이트 government could have used revenue from 바카라사이트 bank levy to increase places at higher education institutions.

¡°Demand for places is running at record levels and 바카라사이트 government says it is serious about tackling youth unemployment. The bank levy could have been invested in student places¡­to generate 바카라사이트 high-value skills and innovation that our economy needs,¡± she said.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said: ¡°Given 바카라사이트 huge overall cut to 바카라사이트 science capital budget, ?100 million to be shared between four research centres is to be welcomed, but is hardly cause for celebration.¡±

simon.baker@tsleducation.com