Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser will question the plausibility of research council funding in an independent Scotland during a members business debate in the Scottish Parliament.
Scottish universities and research institutions currently benefit from an integrated UK research partnership.
Speaking in the Chamber Murdo Fraser MSP will say:
“When I tabled this motion for debate I had no idea that it would end up being debated today. Today’s white paper launch is a significant milestone in the course of the Scottish Independence Referendum debate and it would be short-sighted not to consider the future of research funding in an independent Scotland.”
“National governments fund national research. And although Research Councils do support international projects, they generally only provide funding to researchers in UK institutions. In the event of independence the government of an independent Scottish state would become responsible for deciding how much to spend on research activity and how to distribute research funding.
I read with interest the section in the White Paper on this. It says: “With independence, we would intend to negotiate with the Westminster Government a fair funding formula for Scotland’s contribution based on population share but taking reasonable account of the fact that the amount of research funding received by Scottish institutions may reflect higher or lower levels of funding”. I have read, and re-read, that sentence, and am still none the wiser as to what it means. Can the Minister explain?”
“The people of Scotland want to know if current levels of medical research will be maintained in an independent Scotland.”
“Presiding Officer, during its first century the MRC has been at the forefront of international medical research and has contributed to some of the most significant discoveries within human history. I hope that Scotland will continue to benefit from MRC funding and enjoy being part of the MRC’s next century of life changing research.”