Government spending reviews

Academy input

The Academy worked closely with the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society on a number of activities aimed at securing a positive settlement for research and innovation in the 2013 spending review:

• The Presidents of the Academies issued the joint statement ‘Fuelling prosperity’, which outlines advice for the UK Government on how investment in research and innovation, beyond delivering societal and health benefits, will drive UK growth and competitiveness. The statement calls for a stable ten year investment framework, commitments to investment to keep pace with leading scientific nations, protection of the science budget's ringfence, efforts to ensure research is central to evidence based policy making, and the creation of a world class research and innovation environment to attract talent, collaboration and investment from overseas and industry.
• The Academies subsequently jointly responded to the formal consultation letter from Professor Sir John O’Reilly FREng, Director General of Knowledge and Innovation at BIS, regarding ‘Government strategic priorities for science and research funding’ in a letter that expanded upon the points raised in the statement.
• The Academy's President was on the panel of a Science Media Centre briefing on 5 June at which the Academies reiterated the points raised in the joint statement.

Academy response

The Academy of Medical Sciences welcomed the UK Government’s sustained funding of the research base via the science ring fence, and preservation of the research ecosystem in a difficult spending round. We also highlighted the need to keep pace with other leading scientific nations and build on this investment to ensure a stable framework for research, innovation and skills in the future.

Departmental allocations were announced in February 2014. The Academy responded here.

Academy input

The Academy was one of seven organisations consulted ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2010 by Professor Adrian Smith FRS, Director General, Science and Research at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. The Academy made an initial submission in June 2010, which was followed by a more detailed submission in July 2010.

Academy response

The Academy welcomed the Chancellor’s recognition of the fundamental role of science in economic recovery through protection of spending on health research and science.