MPs attack budget cuts for science

Reducing resources for astronomers and atom scientists risked undermining Britain’s leading role in these areas, said a report from the Science and Technology Committee.

It was also likely to have negative impacts on attracting and inspiring a future generation of scientists, and potential gains from international collaborations.

Science was largely spared painful budget cuts in last autumn’s Spending Review, but some areas fared better than others.

Funding for astronomy is due to be cut by 21 per cent over the next four years, reducing its budget from £100m in 2010/11 to £79m in 2014/15.

A small increase of five per cent in the total budget for particle physics over this period masks a heavy cut in capital – the amount spent on equipment and facilities – of 56 per cent.

Overall, spending on astronomy and particle physics by 2015 will be half what it was six years ago.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council which distributes funds to astronomy, particle physics and nuclear physics, came in for strong criticism.

In particular it was taken to task over Britain’s planned withdrawal from all northern hemisphere ground-based astronomical facilities. This could see UK leadership being given away, said the report.