Volume 1

The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research : sixth report of session 2009-10.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology
Date:
2010
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research : sixth report of session 2009-10. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    seems that many assessors and those being assessed think that they are being asked to ‘predict’ impacts, when in fact the purpose is to stimulate thought about how impact might be developed. It is up to the Research Councils to improve the guidance they provide, and we urge them to act to clear up the misunderstanding. We do not believe that the consideration of pathways to potential impacts should be used as a tie-breaker in grant applications. 37. Lord Drayson told us six times that he was still making the case for science within Government for science’s allocation within the next Budget and CSR.” Lord Drayson told us that “The lack of data on impact which exists at the moment makes it more difficult to make that case effectively within government”. Given that the very best literature on the subject concludes that reliable quantification of the economic impact of investment in science and research is deeply problematic at best, the suggestion that the Treasury is waiting for ‘hard figures’ on the benefits of research causes us great concern. 38. If investment in science does not continue to rise in real terms, not only will the Government have effectively abandoned its aspirations as set out in the Science & Innovation Investment Framework 2004-2014, but will start to lose both the progress made over the past six years and also begin to compromise the UK’s international standing. There is a growing consensus that increased investment in science is essential. The argument is made not only here but also in the Royal Society’s The scientific century: securing our future prosperity,” and the Council for Science and Technology's (CST) A Vision for UK Research. ’° 39. If funding does not increase, UK-based researchers and institutions may find it harder to participate in projects requiring collaboration and the sharing of international facilities, if commitments to medium and long-term funding cannot be made. If there is even a perception that British science is suffering as a result of cuts, the UK will become a less attractive place for academics to work.” A similar consequence could very well be that science will be seen once again as a less attractive destination for students contemplating higher education. With all the work that has gone into increasing the demand for science places within HE, it would be an enormous waste of past effort and future potential were cuts to be visited upon the sector. 73 Qq 246-7, Q 256, Q 269, Q 288, Q 300 74 Q269 75 The Royal Society, The scientific century: securing our future prosperity, 8 March 2010 76 Council for Science and Technology, A Vision for UK Research, 1 March 2010 77 Ev 31, para 1.2 [The Russell Group]; Ev 45, para 4.5 [1994 Group]