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The Prosser Perspective.... a weekly column from Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser

11 October 2007

Now that the froth and bubble of the conference season has settled and the general election speculation has subsided it’s business as usual at Westminster – or close to it anyway.

On our first day back in Parliament we had the Prime Minister’s long awaited statement on Iraq and the news that improved political reconciliation and economic reconstruction was allowing the further reduction force numbers in Southern Iraq to some 2,500 in the new year.

On Tuesday we had the Pre Budget Statement and the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review and tempting though it might be – I don’t think I’d get away with devoting my column to spelling out all the goodies that Alistair Darling listed but I would like to mention one area of progress that won’t hit the headlines but will make an important difference to all of us.

UK scientists and researchers are amongst the best in the world but all too often their discoveries and inventions fail to attract the necessary financial backing to develop them into viable products. But it’s worth remembering that the discovery of penicillin, the link between smoking and cancer and the development of MRI scanning are just a few of the monumental medical advances that took place in the UK.

On Tuesday, the Chancellor announced a huge funding rise of 30 percent over the next three years which means that the overall Science Budget will increase from the current £3.4 billion per year to almost £4 billion by 2010 - taking Government support for the UK’s research to its highest level ever.

Since being elected in 1997 I’ve done my bit to encourage extra spending on research and development and campaigned for increased funding for medical research groups such as the Breakthrough Cancer Campaign so I was delighted that Government has committed to this increased level of support for scientific research, which will be of benefit to the whole of society. The extra money announced in the Spending Review is for essential research and it will enable our National Health Service to make medical breakthroughs to help people when they’re ill, be it with cancer, Alzheimer’s disease or crippling arthritis. Everyone in Dover and Deal and the whole country will benefit from the fruits of this important research work.

The funding boost will ensure that the UK retains its place as a centre for global scientific excellence, drawing in the finest British and international research talent. It will also further increase the economic and social impact of research, from areas as diverse as the enhanced healing of severe wounds to combating credit card fraud; from helping research cures for deadly illnesses to developing new technologies in the search for low-carbon alternatives to deal with planet warming.

The funding will support world class research and development and by linking the research base with business, Britain can become the most attractive place in the world for investment in enterprise and innovation.