Scientists union warns of research cuts

The specialists’ union Prospect has condemned government plans to cut back on scientific research as wrong-headed and dangerous.

The union’s head of research, Sue Ferns, said: “Coalition cuts are already impacting on our ability to deal effectively with emergency situations, such as flooding and animal disease outbreaks, as well as affecting work on key issues such as evaluation of chemical, microbiological and radiological agents that could be used in a terrorist attack.”

The union also says that plans for a “bonfire of the quangos” will affect valuable specialist work in fields including the environment, heritage, health, and science and technology.