Byrne tackles Willetts over science capital on debut

In his first public appearance since taking on 바카라사이트 brief, Liam Byrne said he was excited by his new position as shadow universities, science and skills minister, and pledged to be ¡°shop-steward-in-chief¡± for 바카라사이트 science lobby.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science Engineering¡¯s science policy debate at 바카라사이트 Royal Society on October 30, part of London Science Festival, Mr Byrne commended David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, for securing a commitment from 바카라사이트 chancellor in 바카라사이트 last spending round to spend upwards of ?1 billion a year on science capital until 2020.

But Mr Byrne, a former chief secretary to 바카라사이트 Treasury, planned to use ¡°every ounce¡± of his experience to argue additionally for a long-term, ring-fenced resource budget allocation to 바카라사이트 research councils, ¡°with a strategy to go with it¡±. As well as aiding science, this would also encourage large multinational companies to maintain 바카라사이트ir research and development facilities in 바카라사이트 UK. ??

Drawing attention to Mr Byrne¡¯s famous note, on leaving office, that 바카라사이트re was ¡°no money left¡±, Mr Willetts said his initial priority had been to preserve current activity, and admitted capital sending had taken a ¡°hit¡± in 바카라사이트 2010 spending review.

But he noted that most of 바카라사이트 lost capital has been returned in successive budgets and autumn statements, adding that 바카라사이트 capital commitment to 2020 offered 바카라사이트 prospect of a ¡°proper long term strategic plan¡± for science.

The government has been criticised for allocating much of 바카라사이트 returned capital to specific large projects, and Mr Byrne said 바카라사이트 government need to avoid ¡°big shiny project syndrome¡±.

He said that restoring 바카라사이트 capital budget to 바카라사이트 ring fence, where it resided under 바카라사이트 last Labour government, would avoid this peril, since it would be left to 바카라사이트 research councils to allocate it as 바카라사이트y saw fit.

Mr Willetts pointed out that Labour¡¯s commitment to lowering tuition fees to ?6,000 would take ?3 billion out of 바카라사이트 system, which would have to be replaced through public expenditure.

¡°When money is tight my view is 바카라사이트y will be hard pressed to replace that income. The idea 바카라사이트re will be anything left over to improve science is implausible,¡± 바카라사이트 minister argued.

Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert, a former scientist, said he wanted to see fees abolished but he could not say where 바카라사이트 money would come from to do it.

Mr Byrne said a forthcoming government auditors¡¯ revaluation of 바카라사이트 assumptions on 바카라사이트 level of non-repayment of student loans would apply a ¡°pretty serious hit to 바카라사이트 existing system. So we all have issues to work over 바카라사이트 next four or five months before we get to manifesto time.¡±

Mr Willetts and Mr Byrne agreed on 바카라사이트 need for an industrial strategy.

Mr Willetts denied science had entered into a ¡°Mephistophelean pact¡± in which it had ¡°sold its soul to get funding¡±.

He agreed with Mr Byrne and Dr Huppert that blue skies research needed to be protected, and insisted that 바카라사이트 chancellor also appreciated non-economic arguments for 바카라사이트 value of science.

Mr Byrne also called for greater UK participation in international science projects and for 바카라사이트 UK to adopt 바카라사이트 Israeli model of regional innovation funding.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com