Just before Christmas the UK government announced the science and research budget for 2011/12 to 2014/15- which comes it at around £11.2billion. The ministerial statement available here breaks down the resource and capital allocation for capital by the various research councils, HEFCE, National Academies, and the UK space agendies. A more detailed report entitled ‘Investing in Science and Research’ is aviable from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills . THE notes that no research council will see its resource budget cut by more than an average of 2.6 per cent compared with 2011-2012; although capital budgets have taken a sharper hit; 77 per cent for the Medical Research Council and 50 per cent for The Biological Sciences Research Council.

The announcement was coupled with the publication of ‘delivery plans’ for each of the UK’s specific research councils, available below:

The Arts and Humanities Research Council
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Economic and Social Research Council
Medical Research Council
Natural Environment Research Council
Science and Technology Facilities Council