Comment: Good news on science and technology

Jul 9 2009 By Stewart Watkins, The Journal

THE science and technology sector received welcome news recently when the Government decided to re-establish the parliamentary Science and Technology Committee.

The decision to dissolve the Committee was made in July 2007 when the House of Commons decided to replace it with the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee (IUSS). The reborn Science and Technology Committee will combat fears from the House of Commons that Government science policy would be overlooked in the new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Following a vote by MPs the Science and Technology Committee will come back into effect from October 2009. The decision shows that there is strong support for science, engineering and technology issues within Parliament and the re-established committee will be able to investigate these issues as well as having a dedicated science budget.

The decision has been welcomed across the sector with support from Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and Innovation, as well from Robert Kirby-Harris, chief executive of the Institute of Physics. Nick Dusic, director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering (Case) even went as far as to say that this latest move 'corrects the mistake made in 2007 of abolishing the committee'.

As a region with a thriving science sector we should also welcome the news that the Science & Technology Committee has been established in its own right, with its own budget.

The North East has shown great commitment and investment in this sector with One North East support for start-up companies and established science companies alike and throwing its weight behind initiatives such as the Science & Industry Council. We have an abundance of research capacity in our universities and commitment has been shown by both Durham County Council and CDDC in driving forward NETPark, the region's science and technology park.

It is vital that investment in our knowledge-based future is supported by science remaining high on the political agenda, even during these challenging times.

Stewart Watkins is managing director of County Durham Development Company