Commenting  on today’s Comprehensive Spending Review Chemical Industries Association Chief Executive Steve Elliott said:

Science budget

“I am relieved that the Government has today listened to industry’s plea that the UK needs to maintain its reputation and capability for excellence in scientific research. Freezing the science budget is a better than feared result and gives UK industry a stronger chance of innovating its way to sustained success in international markets.”

Skills

“I am pleased to note that within the funding cuts to Further and Higher Education,  the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has confirmed its commitment to helping ensure that businesses have the highly skilled workforce needed to drive economic growth.  The Government will boost spending on adult apprenticeships by £250m a year, providing up to an additional 75,000 apprenticeship places every year by the end of the Spending Review period – providing a much needed stimulus to the critical technical skill requirements faced by many within manufacturing.”

Renewable Heat Incentive

“It appears that the Government has been sensitive to the burden that would have fallen disproportionately on energy intensive industries if funds for the Renewable Heat Incentive had been raised through a levy on gas bills”

Contact Name: Fiona Ferguson