UK Coalition government Spending Review protects science and health research budgets

In yesterday’s announcement by the UK’s Coalitions government of massive public spending cuts, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) will reduce its resource budget by 25 per cent. Taking into account anticipated receipts, the cut to capital spending by 2014-15 will be 44 per cent.

However, says the BIS, the government will ensure the UK remains a world leader in science and research. To do this it will continue support for the highest value scientific research, maintaining the science budget in cash terms over the Comprehensive Spending Review period with resource spending of £4.6 billion ($7.36 billion) a year by 2014-15.

A ring fence will be maintained by the Department for Business to ensure continuity of investment in Science and Research. Key capital projects going ahead include £220 million in funding to ensure that the UK Centre for Medical Research Innovation goes ahead as planned.