The Treasury's spring supplementary estimates sprang a nasty surprise this year for the UK's scientists. The figures revealed that the budgets for the research councils had been cut by £68m. The directors of the councils were most unhappy and spoke out publicly in opposition. Professor Ian Diamond, who chairs the councils, said the cut "will inevitably have an impact on our ability to maintain the quality of the research base".
The Department of Trade and Industry, the parent of the councils, was silent. Just a day or two later, Alistair Darling, the secretary of state, spoke at a Mansion House dinner about the crucial importance of the science base and of research in general to the UK's competitiveness, without mentioning the decision. The department's website is still following the "never apologise, never explain" dictum.
