Battle champions Britain's scientific R&D programme

In an impassioned address at the House of Commons, John Battle the new Minister for Science, Energy and Industry, asserted that he wanted to raise the profile of science, engineering and technology issues.

Battle would begin to effect this by improving communications within Government. `Within the DTI,' he said, `there is the need for connections to be made and developed. I don't want the DTI to be set against the Department of Environment, when the issues affecting both are connected.'

Margaret Beckett, the President of the Board of Trade had recently told him that she also wanted involvement with science and technology developments.

Since he had been appointed to the job, Battle (whose constituency is Leeds West) had visited universities in his home town and in Liverpool to see research projects on fuels and catalysts. He spoke of the need to link fuel research with that of vehicle design. `These issues should not be kept separate from industrial developments.'

`The UK has a strong science and engineering base. To maintain and strengthen our position among the world leaders, our researchers and industrialists must work together,' he said.

`We need to look to the long term and address fundamental challenges. Blue skies, curiosity-driven research has proved to be the basis of Britain's great scientific discoveries and it is vital that the Government gives its strongest possible support.'

* Battle announced in June a package of 233 new research projects worth £19.5m. The Realising Our Potential Awards will support researchers in universities and institutes in projects as diverse as neurological methods to counter arthritis and an investigation into how pollutants bind onto the soil.