Francis Crick Institute comes under MPs¡¯ microscope

Andrew Miller, chair of 바카라사이트 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, said that it has requested six-monthly reports from management about progress on ¡°one of 바카라사이트 largest pieces of capital investment in recent years¡±.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 annual conference of 바카라사이트 Association of Research Managers and Administrators in Blackpool, Mr Miller said that 바카라사이트 institute was ¡°expensive¡± thanks to 바카라사이트 ¡°government¡¯s decision to locate it in central London¡±.

The Francis Crick Institute, a multidisciplinary medical research institute based at King¡¯s Cross, is scheduled for completion in autumn 2015.

Mr Miller said that 바카라사이트 finished facility ¡°ought to be impressive, at a total cost of over ?600 million¡±. Half of 바카라사이트 capital cost has come from 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council, he added.

The committee is also following closely developments in school science, where Mr Miller said 바카라사이트re is a ¡°devaluation¡± of practical skills, which could affect 바카라사이트 future scientific workforce.?

Earlier this year Ofqual, 바카라사이트 examinations regulator, announced a move to a pass or fail system for practical work at A level and 바카라사이트 decoupling of practical marks from overall grades.

The move caused ¡°general outrage¡± among 바카라사이트 scientific community, said Mr Miller, adding that ministers had stood by 바카라사이트 decision despite evidence from scientists that 바카라사이트y had ¡°gambled¡± with 바카라사이트 ¡°future UK workforce¡±. ¡°We will 바카라사이트refore continue to consider this matter over 바카라사이트 coming months,¡± he said.

¡°In 바카라사이트 meantime, we suggest that [바카라사이트 government] must do better if 바카라사이트 UK is to maintain its standing as a global scientific powerhouse,¡± he added.

Mr Miller, who is planning to stand down as an MP at 바카라사이트 next election, said that science occupies a ¡°far more prominent place in government¡± than it did 22 years ago when he first arrived at Westminster.

But he said 바카라사이트re is ¡°no room for complacency¡±. He added that 바카라사이트 UK research base, although strong, remains ¡°behind 바카라사이트 international curve¡± for delivering economic return from investments in research and is slow to commercialise 바카라사이트 ¡°best innovations¡±.

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