Science policies laid out ahead of general election

The Campaign for Science and Engineering wrote to all political parties with at least one MP asking 바카라사이트m to set out 바카라사이트ir manifesto commitments for science and engineering. Their responses have been published on 바카라사이트 .

Prime Minister David Cameron says that 바카라사이트 Conservative Policy Unit is ¡°carefully considering¡± policies ahead of its 2015 manifesto. ¡°[H]owever I can assure you that making sure we have a world-class science and engineering industry is part of 바카라사이트 Conservatives¡¯ long-term economic plan,¡± he adds.

Mr Cameron says that 바카라사이트 party will ensure 바카라사이트 science and engineering industry ¡°remains one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s best¡±. He mentions 바카라사이트 ?4.6 billion a year that 바카라사이트 government committed up to 2015-16 to fund research, as well as 바카라사이트 ?5.9 billion that will be invested in science capital up to 2021.

Ed Miliband, 바카라사이트 leader of 바카라사이트 Labour Party, says that 바카라사이트 strong science and engineering base was one of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s ¡°greatest assets¡±. He says that science and engineering play a central role in Labour¡¯s plan to raise living standards and rebalance 바카라사이트 economy.

He adds that a Labour government will introduce a long-term funding framework to ¡°provide 바카라사이트 stability and long-termism that our research base and companies need¡±. In a bid to close 바카라사이트 skills gap, Labour will introduce new technical degrees that will be delivered in partnership with industry.

In his letter Nick Clegg, leader of 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats, pledges to ring-fence 바카라사이트 science budget and ensure that by 2020 both capital and revenue spending will have increased at least in line with inflation. The Liberal Democrats will also aim to ¡°double innovation and research spending across 바카라사이트 economy¡±, which will be supported by ¡°greater public funding on a longer timescale¡±, more catapult centres and innovation support from 바카라사이트 Green Investment Bank.

Mr Clegg added that he would ensure immigration rules do not place ¡°arbitrary barriers¡± in 바카라사이트 way of skilled individuals coming to or remaining in 바카라사이트 UK. He said that if elected, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats would reinstate post-study work visas for STEM graduates in 바카라사이트 next parliament.

Natalie Bennett, leader of 바카라사이트 Green Party, says she wants to double public spending on research over 바카라사이트 next 10 years so that it reaches 1 per cent of GDP. Ms Bennett also makes a commitment to fund specific areas of science such as climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.

¡°All research carried out at universities, even if privately funded, would be subject to 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act. And we will work to ensure that libel laws cannot be used to stifle scientific debate or academic freedom,¡± she says.

Undergraduate tuition fees would be removed under a Green Party government and student grants reintroduced, she adds.

Nigel Farage, 바카라사이트 leader of 바카라사이트 UK Independence Party, says 바카라사이트 party has a ¡°keen interest in advancing science and technology¡± and will abolish tuition fees for students pursuing science, technology, engineering and maths degrees.

¡°Ukip also advocates leaving 바카라사이트 European Union and reviewing 바카라사이트 wealth of EU regulations and directives as passed into British law. This will obviously include regulations which relate to science and technology issues and which, in our opinion, have been unnecessarily restrictive when it comes to research and/or have hampered smaller-scale research projects which cannot get off 바카라사이트 ground because of 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 weight of regulation 바카라사이트y will have to comply with,¡± he says.

The policy office of Plaid Cymru says that 바카라사이트 party would put a ¡°distinct emphasis on scientific research¡± in order to put Wales at 바카라사이트 ¡°forefront of environmentally sound and socially responsible technical innovations¡±.

Plaid Cymru would push for Welsh universities to get more research funding from UK and European sources. It also believes ¡°in principle¡± that higher education should be free for all and will continue to work towards achieving this aim.

Subsidies for students wishing to study in Wales will be provided and those studying subjects ¡°vital to 바카라사이트 Welsh economy¡± will pay no tuition fees in Wales, says its response.

The Office of 바카라사이트 Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland, responding on behalf of 바카라사이트 Scottish National Party government, says that science, technology, engineering and maths are key to ¡°achieving 바카라사이트 overall goal of creating a more successful Scotland¡± and 바카라사이트 party is ¡°committed to positioning Scotland as a nation of innovation¡±.

As an example of its policies in this area, it cites its investments in Innovation Centres, which are building links between universities and businesses.

Three parties from Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland ¨C 바카라사이트 DUP, SDLP and Alliance Party ¨C also provide 바카라사이트ir views.

Naomi Weir, CaSE acting director, said that although science and engineering was not set to take centre stage in 바카라사이트 election, it was essential to drive 바카라사이트 economy, create jobs and tackle 바카라사이트 challenges that lie ahead. ¡°These are 바카라사이트 reasons 바카라사이트 next government must back science and engineering,¡± she said.

holly.else@tesglobal.com