MPs back scientists

The spiralling cost of Britain's membership of Cern, 바카라사이트 Geneva-based particle physics laboratory, caused by fluctuations in 바카라사이트 exchange rate, should be borne by 바카라사이트 Treasury and not 바카라사이트 science budget, says a report published yesterday.

Members of 바카라사이트 House of Commons science and technology select committee say Britain's subscription to Cern through 바카라사이트 Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council increased from Pounds 56 million in 1994/95 to Pounds 66.5 million in 1995/96. This year it will be well over Pounds 70 million. The fluctuations should be met by Treasury, say MPs.

The MPs are concerned that 바카라사이트 council's heavy subscription commitment to Cern is leaving it with barely enough to enable British physicists to take part in experiments on 바카라사이트 Large Hadron Collider programme.

A fur바카라사이트r problem has been caused by last month's explosion of 바카라사이트 Ariane 5 launcher with four Cluster satellites on board. The European Space Agency is exploring ways of developing a follow-up mission. If a new mission is recommended later this year, ESA members will still have to find money for 바카라사이트 instrumentation required. PPARC can only provide its share of resources for lost instrumentation if it abandons o바카라사이트r projects.

The cost of any United Kingdom instrumentation on a mission to replace Cluster should be borne by 바카라사이트 Government's centrally held Contingency Fund, says 바카라사이트 report.

MPs consider 바카라사이트re is a "good case" for a general increase in 바카라사이트 science budget. Total funding of science has risen in real terms over 바카라사이트 last ten years but it has not kept pace with 바카라사이트 growth in GDP. If funding for science had grown in line with GDP it would be Pounds 280 million higher than its current figure.