DTI must lose science budget

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 3rd Apr 2007

Responding to the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee report scrutinising the work of the Office of Science and Innovation (OSI) published today, Dr Evan Harris MP, Liberal Democrat member of the committee, said:

"The Government deserves the criticism of the select committee and the condemnation of the science community for the £68 million 'smash and grab raid' of the DTI on the science budget to prop up MG Rover." [see para. 37]

During questioning by Dr Harris at Science Question time, the science minister, Malcolm Wicks, said he couldn't guarantee that the same thing would not happen again.

"The science budget is clearly not safe in the clutches of the DTI as there may always be another crisis in manufacturing which takes political priority over long-term science planning. The ring-fenced budget must lie in another department where it is safe from corporate raids."

Related Links:

Commons Science and Technology Select Committee report, session 06-07, Report on OSI Scrutiny 2005 and 2006.

Science Question Time with Malcolm Wicks - Wednesday 21st March 2007.