UK to increase spending on science and to combat animal extremists

The British government has promised a big boost to spending on scientific research and more measures to combat animal extremists.

Publishing a new industrial policy, the Department of Trade and Industry said total UK government and business investment in research and development would rise from 1.9 to 2.5 per cent of national income by 2014.

The UK currently spends about the same on R&D as the European average but lags well behind France, Germany and the United States. The increase would put the UK ahead of other EU countries and substantially close the gap with the United States, the report said.

A new awards scheme -- the "Newton Awards" -- would also be introduced, backed by a multimillion-pound fund to encourage research in areas likely to help UK business priorities.

Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said the government was "sending a strong signal to scientists around the world that the UK is the place to come to carry out research in leading edge areas, such as nanotechnology and stem cell research."

The Ministry admitted that animal rights extremism still presented a "serious threat" to the UK's economic future and the issue was one of its highest priorities.

"We are working with the police and Home Office to identify, prosecute and deter those masterminding these attacks and are considering additional measures to further clamp down on animal rights extremism."

A spokeswoman said the measures include consultations with industry on ways to tackle the economic damage caused by extremists to research activities and to other companies in the supply chain.