Hammond to unveil £200m boost for cutting-edge science research
One in five of region’s voters not on register
ONE in five people in Yorkshire and the Humber are not registered to vote, new analysis has found.
A study by the Electoral Commission revealed that 18 per cent of those eligible in the region would be unable to take part in upcoming elections, having failed to register.
The commission has launched a campaign encouraging people to sign up, called “Got 5?” which suggests that online registration takes only five minutes.
It hopes to boost the number of voters in the region ahead of the next round of elections, set to take place on May 2.
Peter Forrester, Electoral Commission regional manager for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “Yorkshire and the Humber is gearing up for local elections in May.
“With most of the region going to the polls, it is vital that people in these areas register to vote before the April 12 deadline.
“It takes only five minutes to register to vote online... go online and register now.” CHANCELLOR Philip Hammond is to unveil plans for a £200m investment in cutting-edge scientific research when he delivers his Spring Statement on Wednesday.
The Government has committed to raising investment in research and development to 2.4 per cent of GDP through its industrial strategy.
Among the projects to benefit from the latest cash injection will be the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, which will receive £81m for work developing stateof-the-art laser technology.
The research will help understand how particular materials react in different conditions, such as a replacement joint when it is inserted into the human body.
A further £79m will go to develop a new national “super-computer” in Edinburgh, five times quicker than the UK’s current capabilities.
It will be used across a range of research programmes including medicine, climate science and aerospace, while building on previous British breakthroughs in
targeted treatments for arthritis and HIV.
There will be another £45m for genetic research in Cambridge, providing additional computing and storage capacity.
It will support efforts to sequence one million genomes – a world first – and to explore innovative cell therapies to tackle genetic diseases.
Mr Hammond said: “UK scientific research is worth £36bn and is at the cutting edge of international innovation and discovery.
“We want to retain pole position as we leave the EU, and the announcements I make next week will ensure we maintain our competitive advantage.
“These investments will support innovators across the country to make the breakthroughs that will push biotechnology, medicine, science and aerospace forward.”
Ahead of the event the Treasury has also revealed that sustainability will be at the heart of the statement.
As part of the new drive the Government will launch a major new review into the economics of global biodiversity, as well as a call for evidence on how to conserve and enhance habitats in the UK’s overseas territories.
Ministers will also look into whether public transport users should be given more opportunities by firms to offset their carbon footprint.
And Mr Hammond will state the Government’s intention to future-proof new homes, ensuring they are increasingly energy efficient.