BBC: Science aids economy

UK Science Minister David Willetts is to say that there is an economic case for Britain to have a strong research base.

In his first major speech on science at the Royal Institution, Mr Willetts is to argue the case for scientific research in an age of austerity.

Under the previous government spending on science doubled in real terms.

This made the UK second only to the US in terms of the quality of its research, according to some measures.

This is a factor which draws many hi-tech companies to base themselves in the UK.

Mr Willetts is to say that he values the research base - and understands its importance to the economy.

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