24.03.11
Four research centres to share £100m
Chancellor George Osborne said in his Budget that £100m from a tax on banking profits will be divided between science centres in Cheshire, Norwich, Cambridge and Oxfordshire.
Imran Khan, director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, said: “This is important news for our world-leading facilities in Daresbury, Norwich Research Park, the Barbraham Institute, the space innovation centre, and Harwell.
“We welcome the Chancellor’s commitment to making the UK a world-leader for fields including advanced manufacturing and life sciences, funded out of revenue from the bank levy. The extra funding announced today could be a first step on the path to making science and engineering pivotal to growth.”
“But labs across the country are going to be struggling to make ends meet following the budget cuts announced last year.”
Sally Hunt, general secretary at the University and College Union, agreed, saying: “Given the huge overall cut to the science capital budget, £100m to be shared between four research centres is to be welcomed, but is hardly cause for celebration.”
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