Science and the UK Spending Round 2013

On 26 June 2013, the Chancellor of the Exchequer presented the 2013 Spending Round to Parliament. The 2013 Spending Round sets out how the government will spend approximately £740 billion of taxpayers’ money in 2015-2016, and make further savings to improve the economy. What does this mean for science, research and international collaboration? Let’s take a look inside the documents:

• Funding for science to remain level at £4.6 B (~$7.35 B)
  • A cut in real terms, given the effects of inflation, but a very welcome reprieve given the cuts that other areas have had to absorb. Some programmes will have to be cut or resourced through other funding mechanisms, but most core science will be able to continue.
• Funding for science capital to increase by £500 M (~$798 M)
  • Funding will increase in real terms from £0.6 B in 2012-2013 to £1.1 B in 2015-2016, and in line with inflation to 2016-2017.
  • This is a fairly large investment, and will enable new projects, upgrades and facilities – most likely focused on the Eight Great Technologies.
• Overall science capital budget to increase in line with inflation until 2020-2021
  • While this budget has not formally been set, protecting science capital spending in real terms will enable the benefits of longer-term projects to be fully realised.
• Funding for the Technology Strategy Board to increase by £185 M (~$295 M)
  • A boost for UK innovation and the Catapult research-to-commercialisation centres, reflecting the government focus on growth.
• Research Partnership Investment Fund (RPIF) extended to 2016-17
  • This scheme makes at least £100 M (~$159 M) available annually to match private investment in science infrastructure.
• Funding commitment for high-priority projects
  • There isn’t a formal list of these, but the two examples given in the documents are the Synergistic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) and a new supercomputer for the Met Office.
• Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) targets announced
  • £100 M (~$159 M) was committed to the SBRI at Budget 2013. The breakdown of this will be:
  • £50 M for the Ministry of Defence; £30 M for the NHS (Department of Health); £7 M each for the Department of Transport and the Home Office; £3 M each for the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
• National museum funding reduction limited to 5 %
  • A significant cut, assuming that the full 5 % will be applied. While free entry to the National Museums will be maintained, museums will be forced to find additional sources of revenue and there is speculation that one of the members of the Science Museums Group will have to close.
• Operating model of the British Council reviewed to encourage more self-funding and promote prosperity
  • While this review has not happened yet, it seems likely that central funding will be cut significantly and the British Council will be encouraged to partner with industry to promote UK trade and investment activities.
• Funding for climate change projects in developing countries to increase to £969 M (~$1.55 B)
  • The Department for International Development, Department of Energy and Climate Change and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will jointly fund this, presumably through the International Climate Fund.

Science media outlets are already reporting on these changes, with the BBC, the Guardian and New Scientist hosting comprehensive commentaries.