Scientists warn ministers of ‘false economy’
By Rebecca Burns
The government’s proposed cuts in science funding in order to tackle the deficit are a “false economy” and may damage the UK’s reputation, leading scientific figures have warned.
The 25% budget reduction to government departments and the knock-on decrease in funding will hit the sciences in key areas such as research and education.
Ministers claim the cuts are necessary across the board to reduce the deficit, although health and aid budgets have been ring-fenced.
Tensions over science funding were restarted after Royal Society president Martin Rees criticised the government during an appearance before the Commons’ science and technology committee earlier this week.
He outlined how a combination of policies such as funding cuts, an immigration cap and complex visa applications would damage the UK’s reputation and make it a less attractive destination for scientific talent from abroad.
According to Lord Rees, the effects were already being seen as “it is becoming hard to appoint a non-EU person and attract senior academics from outside the EU without a lot of hassle”.
The peer said the talent deficit may not be truly apparent for some time but nevertheless “there will be a risk of a brain drain” and the possibility “should be given priority because otherwise we will lose out”.
Lord Rees, the Society’s president, repeated the warning to the new government this week.
Responding to Lord Rees’s fears, a spokesperson for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) told politics.co.uk: “There is nothing unusual about researchers moving between countries – this is indicative of a healthy research base.
“Researchers often pursue part of their career overseas e.g. Paul Nurse is returning as president of the Royal Society after a successful period in the USA.”
The spokesperson claimed the long-term trend for the UK was a net inward migration of research staff.
But Imran Khan, the director for the Campaign for Science and Engineering, said the government’s stance lacked vision.
He said: “The evidence shows that UK science and engineering can help sustain the recovery, so cutting funding is a false economy if the government’s aim is to cut the deficit.
“To reap the rewards of past investment and keep our position as a global hub we need to stay internationally competitive and make sure that top scientists and engineers from abroad want – and are allowed – to come and work here.
“It’s disappointing that the government has been silent on whether they will continue the practise of having a long-term framework for science investment, which reflects the fact that to get benefits from research in the short term you need a stable funding environment in the long-term.”
None of the three main parties committed to maintaining science funding beyond the general election.
