Royal Society response to Chancellor's Autumn Statement

In response to George Osborne’s autumn statement, including the announcement of an additional £200 million of capital spending on science infrastructure projects over the next three years, Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society said:

“This additional £200 million for research infrastructure is good news.  We have world class scientists and they need world class places to do their work – you would not keep a Da Vinci in a garden shed.  The repeated references to science and innovation in the chancellor’s speech show a commitment to science and engineering being the basis for a sustainable economic recovery but it will only happen if we are willing to invest heavily, like many of our competitors.  Today’s announcements must be the start of that additional investment rather than just a one off.”