STFC’s Delivery Plan for the next spending review period was published
this morning by Government, and is now available on our website www.stfc.ac.uk Approved by our Council
and Minister, the plan is a high-level outline of our proposals for the next
four years. STFC Executive’s preparations for the spending review were
overseen by a sub-group of Council, with input from our Science Board, and
involved discussions with the Institute of Physics and Royal Astronomical
Society, our international partners and other stakeholders.
In the current difficult economic climate facing the UK public sector,
STFC’s allocation provides a very positive and welcome confirmation by
government of the importance of our research for the future of the UK.
In terms of the detail we argued, and government agreed, that our allocation
should be partitioned between the international subscriptions, domestic large
research facilities, and our grants and other programmes. This outcome will
allow us to largely protect our grants portfolio, and to continue the programme
announced last year following our major science prioritisation.
Our major facilities – ISIS, Central Laser Facility (CLF) and Diamond
– have received an allocation agreed by all Research Councils. This
provides a baseline operation for ISIS and CLF, and full operation for Diamond,
to meet the requirements of users funded by the other Research Councils. STFC
will also continue our efforts to expand opportunities for other users of these
facilities. Finally, government has fully funded in both resource and capital
the requirements of the international subscriptions we manage on behalf of the
UK research base – CERN, ESO, ILL and ESRF.
The next step is to develop an Operating Plan for 2011-12 with firm allocations
for our grant programmes, facilities, and other activities. We will be
consulting on this during January and February and will provide information on
these activities through our Website.
You may also be interested in Science Minister, David Willetts’, media
statement (http://www.bis.gov.uk/news/topstories/2010/Dec/science-research-and-hefce-funding).
RCUK, on behalf of all Councils, has also issued a statement, available online
with links to all RC delivery plans: (http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/news/2010news/Pages/101220.aspx)
Regards
Keith Mason
Chief Executive