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Adam
Afriyie MP - Shadow Minister for Science and Innovation -
Calls on Government to Evaluate Science Centre Spending
22-Oct-07, Press Release.
Adam Afriyie MP, the
Conservative Shadow Minister for Science and Innovation, has
today called on the Government to evaluate its spending on
Science and Learning Centres, many of which now face serious
financial threats and some of which have already closed.
Many Science & Learning Centres
are under financial pressure because much of the funding
they received from the Government was short-term and visitor
numbers combined with admission charges fees are often
insufficient to cover their costs.
Mr Afriyie said:
“Science & Learning Centres can
be exciting places that provide a rich mix of educational
and inspirational scientific input for families
“They can also encourage
younger visitors to study science subjects at schools,
colleges and universities, yet the Government hasn’t
bothered to evaluate the situation and now we have a crisis
and closures
“The Government pays lip service to promoting science but,
quite frankly, it is shocking that after 10 years it has
failed to evaluate the effect of Science Centres.”
Mr Afriyie added:
“We very much value the work that Science Centres undertake
and would like to see a long-overdue review of Government
spending in this area.
“If they are having a positive value-for-money impact on
science and innovation, we need to know before they are
forced to close.”
End
Contact Details:
Adam Afriyie MP
Telephone: 0207 219 8023
Email:
afriyiea@parliament.uk
Notes to Editors
1.
The Science and Technology
Select Committee published its report today, “The Funding
of Science and Discovery Centres.”
2.
Adam Afriyie MP is a member of
the Science and Technology Select Committee.
3.
Adam Afriyie MP is the Shadow
Minister for Science and Innovation. |
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