RAS response to Select Committee inquiry into Science Budget Allocations (2008)

The Council of the Royal Astronomical Society has broadly welcomed the report from the House of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee, following their inquiry into the Science Budget Allocations for 2007-10.

Members of Council have agreed the following statement:

"The RAS welcomes the Report on the Science Budget Allocation published by the Innovation Universities Science and Skills Select Committee, which encapsulates well the criticisms we have been making of STFC and its management of the allocation.

We will continue to press STFC to improve communications with and consulation of the community.

We will also continue to press DIUS to find a way to mitigate the severe cuts to astronomy and particle physics grants.

We are engaging strongly in the Wakeham Review of Physics and we urge that no irreversible decisions are taken prior to the Wakeham Review report."