Articles and Speeches

Government ‘laid foundations’ for physics funding crisis

Thursday, 2nd October 2008.  Press Release

Responding to the publication of the Research Councils UK Review of UK Physics, Shadow Science and Innovation Minister Adam Afriyie said:

“It now seems certain that the Government laid the foundations for the physics funding crisis during its botched creation of the STFC.

“The science minister must now accept the call to make a statement on the Haldane Principle if he is to redeem his department’s tarnished reputation.

“We are excited about the future of UK physics and UK science and it is a great shame that the Government has brought the excellent work of UK researchers to the headlines in such a negative way.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1.       The RCUK review of physics is published here: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/review/physics/default.htm.

2.       The review panel noted that the Government deliberately created a reduced STFC Council, and that structure ‘has not best served the community’ (p. 55).

3.       DIUS accepted the review panel’s recommendation to  expand the panel’s membership in the response published with RCUK.  The response is also published here: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/review/physics/default.htm.

Contact Details:

Telephone: 020 7219 8023

Email: afriyiea@parliament.uk