HC 507

Written evidence submitted by the Campaign for Science and Engineering [SMG 019]

The Campaign for Science & Engineering (CaSE) is the leading independent advocacy group for science and engineering in the UK. CaSE works to ensure that science and engineering are high on the political and media agenda, and that the UK has world-leading research and education, skilled and responsible scientists and engineers, and successful innovative business. It is funded by around 750 individual members and 100 organisations including industries, universities, learned and professional organisations, and research charities.

The contribution of science and engineering to the UK’s prosperity and identity is dependent on a rich network of contributors, public and private. It is vital that our Science Museums are considered in the context of that holistic view of UK science. They provide access, inspiration, education and outreach. This directly drives the generation of our skilled workforce and world-leading research base. Therefore the Science Museums are of international significance because they play a crucial role in upholding the UK’s ambition to be the best place in the world to do science.

The Confederation of British Industry published its annual Skills Survey [1] last week which showed that "39% [of firms] are struggling to recruit workers with the advanced, technical STEM skills they need-with 41% saying shortages will persist for the next three years." The Science Museums Group directly tackles this by feeding the pipeline of STEM-skilled workers through informal learning. The Science Museum reaches an audience of over 5.2m each year and 600,000 through learning programmes-more than any other museum in the UK.

The proposed cuts to the Science Museum Group budget represent a real threat to the Group’s ability to deliver this pipeline of skill and learning. The Science Museum has had 25% real term cuts since 2010 during which time the science base (funded by BIS) has endured around a 10% cut by comparison.

CaSE urges the Committee to consider the impact of its decisions on the whole of UK science. We urge the government to take a cross-departmental view to support for science. And we urge DCMS to fund the work of the Science Museums Group to a level that enables it to remain a vital contributor to our place as a leading scientific nation.

June 2013