Prospect writes to Science Minister over funding concerns

The ‘sustainability of our national capacity for science’ is under threat if it is not funded properly, Prospect has said in a letter to the Science Minister, Lord Vallance.

Prospect represents some 50,000 members working in scientific and technical roles, such as those working at key public bodies like UK Research and Innovation and its research councils, as well as scientists in the private sector.

The letter states:

“We have been hearing, increasingly, about possible headcount reductions at research institutes, the impacts on research infrastructure of cuts to National Capability funding, and even queries over the future of our international partnerships in a period when core capacity is under strain.”

Prospect’s concerns over science funding were exacerbated when news emerged in early April that UKRI’s cash settlement for 2025-26 will be £8.8bn, the same nominal sum as the previous financial year, but a real-terms cut when taking inflation and other rising costs into account.

The letter continues:

“We recognise the pressures and many competing demands on government finances. However, considering the government’s own growth mission, based on an industrial strategy with science and innovation at its core, along with the growing urgency to build national resilience, this is not the time to downgrade our capacity or international reputation in science.”

In particular, Prospect asks for assurances and clarity on the following specific issues:

• How does the 2025-26 funding allocation measure up according to OECD government R&D statistics, which are comparable year-on-year and against international benchmarks?
• The latest breakdown of the UKRI budget does not distinguish certain elements of cross-UKRI funding that were itemised in previous years’ reports: time-limited commitments; centrally managed funding; existing strategic programmes; new strategic programmes; infrastructure. Please could your officials share comparable figures for these classifications for the 2025-26 allocation?
• Prospect members across a number of institutes have already been warned of a 4.5% cut to National Capability (NC) funding. We would like to understand whether the UKRI funding squeeze was already accounted for in the NC budget, or whether there are further cuts planned to NC funding for 2025-26 to accommodate the overall reduction in the UKRI budget.
• Has the department or UKRI undertaken impact assessments for the NC funding cut, and for the UKRI budget allocation? We would welcome an overview of the anticipated consequences, particularly for jobs across the research and innovation landscape, but also for national research infrastructure and services.
• How will the department resource work to support the industrial strategy, and the Cabinet Office review into national resilience and preparedness, in light of this budget settlement.

Finishing the letter, Sue Ferns, Prospect’s Senior Deputy General Secretary, asks the Science Minister for a meeting to “discuss these matters, and how our members working in science can contribute to the government’s missions, in particular to deliver economic growth.”

>>> Download the letter to Lord Vallance from the Prospect Library