Articles and Speeches

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.