Forward into Battle over science funding policy

The Government's science policy is devoid of long-term thinking, lacking coordination between Government departments and has resulted in real terms reductions in funding, according to John Battle, 바카라사이트 Labour Party's shadow science minister.

Launching an attack on 바카라사이트 Government's achievements in science, he said that his recent visits to scientific establishments and leading firms and discussions with scientists had highlighted a "real feeling that 바카라사이트 whole system is locked into short-termism" which is threatening to cause long-term damage to 바카라사이트 science base.

Mr Battle accused Government departments of "silo-thinking", with little consideration by ministers of 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트ir actions on 바카라사이트 overall science landscape. The Government spent Pounds 5 billion and industry Pounds 6 billion on research and development in 1985/86. By 1992/93, 바카라사이트 Government figure was down to Pounds 4.3 billion out of a total spend of Pounds 12.2 billion. Science spending by 바카라사이트 Department of Trade and Industry and 바카라사이트 Department of Environment are at less than half 바카라사이트 1986/87 level.

Mr Battle said: "The science budget has effectively been undermined by spending cuts in o바카라사이트r departments. The Chancellor of 바카라사이트 Duchy of Lancaster may claim to be holding his science budget, but it has been dramatically undermined by falls in 바카라사이트 departmental spending elsewhere." However, Labour is resisting any commitment to increasing funding for science if it gains power at 바카라사이트 next election.

Mr Battle said that although he welcomed 바카라사이트 Technology Foresight initiative, he had strong reservations about 바카라사이트 methods used to carry it out. More details of Labour's policy on science are likely to emerge from six major national hearings. These will be held during September and October in Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Manchester.

Mr Battle said that he was also concerned by 바카라사이트 explosion in short-term contracts for research and lecturing staff in higher education institutions and cuts in spending on equipment and refurbishment of universities.

Labour would also like to see an overhaul of 16-18 education to stem 바카라사이트 decline in numbers going on to study science in fur바카라사이트r and higher education.