The UK’s strong research base creates growth and jobs, but there are concerns that our structurally low level of investment will lead to us falling behind our competitors. Chemistry also influences nearly all areas of everyday life and consequently the interests of those involved in the chemical sciences spread into almost all areas of public policy – including climate change, the need for clean sustainable energy, the need to maintain food production and how we educate and train our young people so that they can continue working to solve these issues in the future.
The Royal Society of Chemistry asked political parties what their priorities for science are and how they would ensure that the UK remains the best place in the world to do science.
Find out more about the campaigning work the Royal Society of Chemistry does and take part in their campaigns on science funding and specialist teaching.
Naomi Long MP, Alliance
Alliance believes the future of the economy will be based on securing high-tech, highly-innovative and highly-skilled jobs. In Westminster, Alliance will support changes to improve the standing of science, skills and innovation.
This will include increasing investment in science and research through the UK Research Councils, due to the clear link between state investment in science and economic prosperity. We will also audit what scientific infrastructure is lacking and ensure it is considered part of the UK’s scientific investment programmes.
Alliance will specifically identify what gap exists in funding and infrastructure for science in Northern Ireland, as well as supporting the universities to down greater levels of science and research funding from both the Research Councils and the EU.
Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Conservative
Scientific endeavour is inherently worthwhile, expanding the frontier of human understanding.
We have invested in British science, despite making difficult decisions elsewhere. We have protected science funding in this Parliament and made the longest commitment to science capital in decades - £5.9 billion from 2016 to 2021. We are incentivising companies to invest in R&D and bringing together scientists, engineers and businesses to turn ideas into reality by setting up a network of Catapult centres.
Science and innovation are at the heart of our long-term economic plan. By investing in our future we are helping to grow new industries and create more high quality jobs, meaning more financial security for people across the country.
Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, Labour
Britain’s science base is under threat. University finances are at risk from a bankrupt student loan system. The Conservative’s reckless plans to take public spending back to the 1930s will cripple the nation’s science and skills budgets. We’re being cut off from global science partners as this government damages our vital research relationship with the EU and turns away the best and the brightest international students.
Labour’s priorities couldn’t be more different. We’ll fix university finances, introduce a long-term R&D funding framework and invest in gold standard vocational training to get more young men and women into STEM subjects. A Labour government will also take international students out the net migration target and secure Britain’s place in a reformed EU.
Dr Julian Huppert MP, Liberal Democrat
As a chemist myself – an FRSC – science and research are absolutely key to my thinking. I’m delighted that my party has backed my proposals to make sure we remain world class.
In the next Parliament, we will ring-fence the science budget for both capital and revenue, and continue to press for a 15-year cross party agreement to increase the budget by 3% above inflation. That would provide the certainty people need.
Good science needs good people, so we’ll help unleash future talent by requiring STEM specialists at schools, and we’ll promote diversity so no one is left out because of gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background or anything else.
We’ll also make it easier for key workers to come here from overseas.
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP, SDLP
Love of science is something that needs to be nurtured at an early age. Our first priority is ensuring that science is supported at primary school level by hiring more teachers alongside encouraging innovative teaching methods.
We continue to back funding for Third level research, as institutions such as Queens University produce world leading research from Belfast. Specialism, especially in chemical engineering and biomedical research, is a value added component of the economic product offered in Northern Ireland and we must continue to encourage that.
In addition we welcome the development of Science Parks as quality bases for R&D and commercialisation. Specific science based clustering in sites across Northern Ireland has given us a competitive advantage and should be supported.
Mike Weir MP, SNP
The SNP ambition for Scotland includes substantial growth in renewable energy, which not only contributes to our low carbon future but also can create thousands of new sustainable jobs. We are also heavily promoting Scotland’s important food and drink sector. Both of these are heavily dependent upon, and show the importance of innovation and science to everyday life.
We are committed to protecting the cash ring fence of the science budget. Currently, Scotland has over 620 organisations in the science and innovation sector employing over 30,000 staff and the SNP Scottish government understand the importance of well-funded science and research. Investing in Science and innovation can strengthen our performance in export markets, support economic growth and maintain our global reputation.
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