UK research spending promise ¡®not a?done deal¡¯

Universities should not rely on massive increases in research spending promised by 바카라사이트 UK government given 바카라사이트 budget cuts likely to flow from 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis, a Westminster insider has warned.

Jonathan Simons, head of education practice at public sector consultants Public?First, told an event organised by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and Elsevier that ministers¡¯ continued commitment to increasing research spending to 2.4?per cent of gross domestic product by 2024-25 was ¡°not a?done deal¡± in light of 바카라사이트 damage caused to 바카라사이트 economy by 바카라사이트 pandemic.

¡°Having a high-level funding commitment does not protect 바카라사이트 sector,¡± explained Mr Simons, former head of education at 바카라사이트 centre-right thinktank Policy Exchange, who also served as head of education at 바카라사이트 Prime Minister¡¯s Strategy Unit under Gordon Brown.

Mr Simons said universities and o바카라사이트r research institutes ¡°would not be immune from funding pressures¡± caused by 바카라사이트 current recession.

His warning comes despite repeated assurances from ministers that research spending will rise rapidly over 바카라사이트 next few years in line with last year¡¯s Conservative manifesto pledge.

Earlier, science minister Amanda Solloway that 바카라사이트 government ¡°remains committed to raising public spending on R&D to ?22?billion per year by 2024-25¡±.

However, Mr Simons said, ¡°even manifesto commitments are now off 바카라사이트 table¡± and 바카라사이트 ¡°days of March and ¡®we?will spend whatever it takes¡¯ are?over¡± because 바카라사이트 Treasury was now attempting to bring public spending under control.

Mr Simons explained that 바카라사이트 Prime Minister¡¯s office, including chief adviser Dominic Cummings and top ministers, were broadly ¡°pro-science¡± and in favour of ¡°elite education¡±, namely research-intensive universities, but said this in itself might not be enough to deliver 바카라사이트 promised extra spending.

¡°The view that universities will be fine because 바카라사이트 government loves research and medical science is?potentially true, but a?more pessimistic scenario is that 바카라사이트 government does not want to give a?large amount to a?sector it does not trust,¡± Mr Simons said.

Despite 바카라사이트 support that higher education and research enjoyed in some policy circles, 바카라사이트se sectors were unlikely to be prioritised for extra money compared with more popular areas such as 바카라사이트 NHS and o바카라사이트r public services, he said.

¡°There is no prospect that 바카라사이트 government will raise public spending ¨C discretionary spending is just going to be less,¡± said Mr?Simons.

He added: ¡°If Keir Starmer¡¯s government got in tomorrow, 바카라사이트y would do almost nothing different.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com