| Synopsis: |
Government invests in a range of large scientific facilities to support and develop the nation's science base, with over GBP 860 million allocated since 2000 to construct 10 new large scientific projects. These programmes include: a Diamond Synchrotron (costing GBP 383 million) to produce intense X-rays and shorter wavelength emissions for examining structures at molecular and atomic level; a new research ship, RRS James Cook, to conduct oceanographic and marine studies (a budget of GBP 40 million); and a new Antarctic research station (with a budget of GBP 34.7 million) for monitoring climate, ozone and space weather.Following on from a January 2007 National Audit Office report on this topic ('Big Science: Public Investment on Large Scientific Facilities (HC 153)' - ISBN 0102944199), the Committee's report examines how large scientific facilities are delivered and the how their value is assessed.The findings include: the first two projects have been delivered largely to time and budget, but other projects still at an early stage are forecasting slippage, with five of the six most mature projects forecasting significant increases in the initial estimates for operating costs; Research Councils have not always sufficiently evaluated options for locating new scientific facilities and have had difficulty in attracting a sufficient number of bidders for contracts to help build new facilities; Performance indicators used by the Research Councils and project teams for monitoring the success of these facilities are not always sufficiently comprehensive or measurable; and, If the UK is to maximise the value of these facilities it needs to attract more young people into science to make good use of the research capacity now being built. |