Web accessibility: Change options
date: 8 September 2010
embargo: For immediate release
Commenting on Business Secretary Vince Cable's announcement today (Wednesday) that the Government is to cut back on the £6 billion a year spent on scientific research, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
'Cutting the science budget is exactly the wrong thing to do at a time when we are trying to rebalance the economy away from an over-reliance on finance and make the transition to a low-carbon society.
'Of course money needs to be spent effectively, but the most cursory examination of the history of science shows that research does not neatly break down into work that is or is not commercially viable.
'Next time Mr Cable puts on a CD, he should remember that the laser that reads his disk had no commercial application when discovered. Nor is there a clear obvious dividing line between excellence and the rest.
'Our competitors are investing in science, recognising that this is the way to build success in the global economy. The UK, by contrast, is sending the message to the next generation of scientists that their talents are undervalued.'
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet
- Congress 2010 will be held at the Manchester Central Convention Complex from Monday
13 September to Thursday 16 September. Free media passes are no longer being issued. Media credentials now cost £50 and can be collected in Manchester. If you would like a media pass, please visit www.tuc.org.uk/congress/tuc-18063-f0.cfm and return the form.
Contacts:
Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk
Subjects: About the TUC | Economic Issues | Equality Issues | Industrial Issues | International Issues | Social Issues | Union Issues | Workplace Issues
Themes: All Together for Public Services | All Together for Public Services - Events | Brendan Barber | Changing Times | Child Poverty | Decent Work | Fair Work | Frances O'Grady | It's About Time | May Day | New Unionism | NorthernMagazine | One-in-Five Campaign | Speak Up For Public Services | touchstone | TUC Aid | Working On The Edge
Other navigation: Newsroom | What's New | Site search | Advanced search | Home
TUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS
Telephone 020 7636 4030, Email
Privacy statement, Copyright © Trades Union Congress 2013, unless otherwise stated
From full graphics http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-18438-f0.cfm