UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has pledged to protect the research budget. Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty
Britain’s finance minister, Jeremy Hunt, said the economic crisis will not affect the ambitious plans for research investment, much to the relief of researchers.
The concern of universities and scientists that the government may use the money promised for science to block two billion pounds in national funds caused by the financial decisions of the previous prime minister, Liz Truss.
UK graduate students want pay rise from country’s biggest research fund
UK graduate students want pay rise from country’s biggest research fund
But during today’s speech on government spending – known as the Autumn Statement – the head of the Exchequer Hunt told parliament he would protect the UK’s entire research budget because cutting is a “big mistake”. He added that the government would spend £20 billion (US$22 billion) a year on science by 2024-25 – a commitment made by former prime minister Boris Johnson’s government was put in the balance when he resigned in July. Truss remained skeptical of science spending during his 44 days in office.
Stephanie Smith, head of policy at the Russell Group, which represents 24 leading British research universities, tweeted: “Big sigh of relief” at the news that the science budget will be protected.
Anne Johnson, president of the Academy of Medical Sciences in London, welcomed the decision in “difficult economic times”. But he warned that there may still be problems ahead for research. “The climate will continue to put pressure on budgets in real terms, and we must protect the collaboration between UK researchers and partners around the world.”
The Geneticist Paul Nurse, who runs the Francis Crick Institute in London, said that the announcement is “very good, especially in the current situation”.
Cost concerns
The UK economy was thrown into turmoil in September when Truss and the then chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, announced a package of fiscal policies, including tax cuts for the highest earners. On the same subject : When to buy travel insurance, and when to skip it. of the country. The drop in the value of the pound, along with the increase in inflation and energy costs, caused scientists to worry about the increase in laboratory costs.
Rishi Sunak, the head of Johnson’s government, replaced Truss as prime minister in October. So far it is unclear what this change will mean for the future direction of science spending.
British scientists fear that they will be locked out of the €100 billion EU research program
British scientists fear that they will be locked out of the €100 billion EU research program
The 2024-25 commitment reaffirmed by Hunt is one of the key elements in an earlier pledge to spend 2.4% of gross domestic product on research and development by 2027. But according to the UK Office for National Statistics – a non-departmental government organization – is in the government. this goal has been achieved. This was due to changes in the way research and development spending is planned, rather than any additional funding.
Although the British researchers welcomed the transparency of the expenditure, it is not clear who in the government of Sunak has the greatest responsibility for science. In October, the Truss government announced that Nusrat Ghani, a member of parliament for southeast England, would hold the post of science minister. Sunak has reconfirmed his position, but it appears that George Freeman – who resigned from the role earlier this year as part of a bid to force Prime Minister Johnson to resign – has also been reappointed.
The website for the government department that oversees financial science, the Ministry for Business, Energy and Industrial Planning, lists both Freeman and Ghani as “minister of state”, with Ghani also listed the “minister for science and investment protection”. A spokesman for BEIS could not say who had full responsibility for the science, saying the minister’s files were “not officially certified”.
The disease also caused mental stress in students, making it difficult for them to focus on studying. They expressed feelings of anxiety, boredom, loneliness, homesickness, grief, and hopelessness.
How did COVID-19 affect profit?
Total profits fell significantly during the COVID-19 crisis in the non-financial corporate sector (NFC) and the household sector (Chart B).
How has Covid affected businesses? In 2020, 6.0 percent of companies canceled, 9.7 percent postponed, 8. Read also : Judgment | After covid, here’s what the US must do to beat the next pandemic.2 percent reduced, and 1.5 increased some of their capital expenditure budgets during the coronavirus pandemic. A total of 1.7 percent of companies introduced new investments that were not accounted for.
How did the Covid 19 pandemic affect people financially?
The COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis have caused great difficulty. In the first months of the crisis, tens of millions of people lost their jobs. This may interest you : US life expectancy is falling for the second year in a row. While employment began to recover within a few months, unemployment remained high in 2020.
What are the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to you and the society?
From school closures to damaged homes and millions of lost jobs – the social and economic costs of the pandemic are many and varied. Covid-19 threatens to widen inequality everywhere, undermine progress on global poverty and clean energy, among other things.
How does this disease affect your thoughts and feelings about yourself? Even when you are at home with your family, the reality of social isolation can still trigger loneliness, depression, and anxiety. You may also find that spending all day, every day with your family can be stressful and challenging, no matter how much you love them.
What has the pandemic taught you about yourself?
Boundaries are important. I learned that setting healthy boundaries is an important form of self-care that isn’t always easy. I still have to work on it, but now I’m trying to set some boundaries about how I spend my time and what commitments are achievable for me. I prioritize people and activities to fill my plate.
How does COVID-19 pandemic affect your life discuss?
Too much information, stories and misinformation can make your life feel out of control and make it difficult to do anything. During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may experience depression, anxiety, fear, sadness and loneliness.
What are the impacts of this pandemic in the different sectors of the economy?
The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting public health and causing sudden disruptions in the economy and labor market, including workers and enterprises in the forestry sector. This has exacerbated existing challenges, with many enterprises and workers suffering as a result.
What are the negative effects of pandemic?
Depression and anxiety can manifest as increased mood swings, irritability, withdrawal, and feelings of restlessness [2,19]. Physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, etc. cannot be explained medically, including poor appetite and damage to the person himself, is not common.
How did the disease affect people’s lives? As hospitals were filled with COVID patients, another disease spread to many homes. Lockdowns and quarantines have caused many to be separated from their families, and with economic uncertainty, many Americans have struggled with mental health.
What will be the long term effects of the pandemic?
Symptoms of neurological or mental health conditions, including difficulty thinking or thinking, headaches, sleep problems, dizziness when standing, pins-and-needles pins and needles, loss of smell or taste, and depression or anxiety. joint or muscle pain.
How COVID-19 has affected the economy?
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy is significant, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimating that the total GDP of the world fell by 3.9% from 2019 to 2020, making it the worst recession since the Great Depression.
What are the positive effects of COVID-19? Results: Physician recruitment has increased significantly since before the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to this period. sick Physicians are employed differently in surgery, medicine and other specialties.
How did COVID-19 have an impact on the economy?
The disease was accompanied by record falls in productivity in almost all major economies. US GDP fell 8.9 percent in the second quarter of 2020 (figure 3-3), the slowest one-quarter decline in more than 70 years (BEA 2021c). Many other major economies fared worse.
