Yesterday (15 June) Members of the Commons’ Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee called on Government to account for what had happened to the additional £300m that was committed to the mathematical sciences back in January 2020.
During the session, George Freeman, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, and Dame Ottoline Leyser DBE FRS, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) were asked about the status of the Government’s commitment to allocating £300 million to mathematical sciences research.
The Government first announced the ringfenced, additional funding in January 2020. Last month, London Mathematical Society President Professor Ulrike Tillmann pointed out in an inquiry session by the same committee that the vast majority of the funding had yet to be received.
Graham Stringer MP asked: "Have you decided, Minister, on how the £300 million that has been devoted to mathematical sciences -- have you decided how that has been allocated? Has it been allocated?" The Minister deferred to Dame Leyser to respond, and Committee Chair Greg Clark MP followed up specifically to get an answer.
“We did not receive the £300 million specifically labelled mathematical sciences, despite the announcement”, Dame Leyser confirmed.
Mr Clark noted that this answer was “concerning” and asked the Minister whether the funding has been withdrawn.
The Minister replied that if for any reason it were to be withdrawn, he committed to providing an explanation to the House. However, he did not make a clear commitment on when or whether the additional funding will be delivered.
Both Dame Leyser and the Minister acknowledged the vitality of mathematics for research and innovation and that it is "critical across the disciplines".
You can watch the full session here, with the questioning on the £300m funding beginning at 12:01.
