RCUK Chief Warns MPs About Funding Cut

Alan Thorpe, Lloyd-Webber lookalike and chairman of Research Councils UK, gave evidence to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on the work of the research councils yesterday. He stressed that a drop in research funding could seriously harm the UK research base for years to come.

Whilst the councils were confident of getting the money that they had been promised for the next academic year (2010-11), there was the assumption that funding would flatline thereafter. Anything less than this would damage the UK's research reputation internationally, he suggested.

One MP, Brian Iddon, reported that there was a rumoured 11% cutin the offing. However, Thorpe said the he was unaware of this, and had not been told that this would be the case.