The first Budget of the new government has been welcomed as a "positive step" for science by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS).
The Society, along with much of the science sector, had been concerned about rumoured real-term cuts to the science budget, particularly to the allocations for fundamental research.
There had also been fears that the UK subscription and guarantees for the EU Horizon Europe programme would be 'tucked in' to the existing budget for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), adding further pressure on resources.
However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves appears to have listened to scientists by committing to protecting the science budget and setting out a separate budget line for Horizon Europe, something the Society welcomes.
RAS President Professor Mike Lockwood said: "Science, including the fundamental sciences of astronomy and geophysics represented by the RAS, are a vital part of the research ecosystem in the UK, and deliver enormous benefits to the economy and to society in many forms, such as new technologies, transferrable skills, national reputation, and monitoring of the Earth and space.
"Yesterday's Budget is a positive step that recognises that, and I very much welcome it."
The RAS will be closely following the next stages in the Budget process, as DSIT makes its allocations to individual research councils and to the UK Space Agency over the months to come.