After all the linkurl:wailing and gnashing of teeth;http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/52939/ in the UK recently over science budget cuts, the government is in the good books again. Why? The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, has vowed long term increases in funding in his latest (and probably last) linkurl:budget;http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget/budget_07/bud_bud07_index.cfm announcement. Broadly speaking, the budget includes a promise that total investment in the public science base will rise by 2.5 per cent in real terms every year over the period of the Comprehensive Spending Review, which runs from 2008 to 2011. Science would also benefit from an increase in allocations to the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) which will support collaborative research and development with businesses. Cue cheers all round: "It is good news to see the Government highlighting the importance of science to the future of the UK's economy," said Martin Rees of the Royal Society. "It is wonderful news that the Chancellor has...

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