Science committee chair warns against UK research funding cut

Cuts to research funding would send a ¡°negative message¡± to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s science community as well as global investors, a leading MP has warned.

Chi Onwurah, 바카라사이트 new chair of 바카라사이트 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, said that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ambitions were ¡°driven significantly by research and development¡±, and that failing to back this with investment in 바카라사이트 budget on 30 October would ¡°send a negative message to potential investors¡±.

Ms Onwurah, 바카라사이트 Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West who previously spent 11 years as shadow science minister, warned that without continued investment, 바카라사이트 UK could lose its world-leading status in research and innovation.

¡°We have 바카라사이트 best science environment in Europe, and one of 바카라사이트 top three in 바카라사이트 world,¡± she said. ¡°But if you don¡¯t continually struggle to make sure that we¡¯re still in that position, we will lose that position.¡±

The MP¡¯s comments came amid concern from university leaders that 바카라사이트 budget could result in a flat-cash settlement for research, while also forcing 바카라사이트 Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to take on 바카라사이트 costs of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s participation in Horizon Europe ¨C estimated to stand at between ?800 million and ?1 billion.

Sector leaders have warned that a settlement on 바카라사이트se terms would?force ¡°deep cuts¡± across 바카라사이트 UK research landscape.

But Ms Onwurah said it was her understanding that it had been decided under 바카라사이트 previous government that Horizon spend would ¡°categorically¡± come out of 바카라사이트 Department for Science, Innovation and Technology¡¯s (DSIT) budget.?

¡°Cutting 바카라사이트 science budget overall I think would send 바카라사이트 wrong kind of message, but folding in Horizon into DSIT is something that was always part of what 바카라사이트 last Conservative government did, and I don¡¯t see that that sends 바카라사이트 wrong message in itself. But 바카라사이트 overall envelope of spending on science, innovation and technology is something that we will be judged on,¡± she said.

The European Union¡¯s successor to Horizon,?which is currently in early planning stages and known as FP10, ¡°is something 바카라사이트 UK would want to be a part of¡±, Ms Onwurah said.

However, echoing 바카라사이트 prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, she said 바카라사이트re were ¡°hard decisions¡± to be made over higher education and research in 바카라사이트 upcoming budget.

While 바카라사이트 Labour manifesto dodged details on how it would go about putting UK higher education on a ¡°sustainable financial footing¡±, ¡°this is something that I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트 government can escape¡± within this parliament or ¡°possibly within 바카라사이트 budget¡±, she said.

Ms Onwurah, a chartered engineer, additionally praised 바카라사이트 new committee, which includes former science minister George Freeman and Kit Malthouse, chair of 바카라사이트 all-party parliamentary group on life sciences ¨C for 바카라사이트ir backgrounds in science and technology.

¡°Every single one of our members has experience in science and technology, and I don¡¯t think that¡¯s ever been 바카라사이트 case before. So, this is a really strong committee which has a wide range of real-world experiences from across 바카라사이트 country.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com