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Lord Krebs, chairman of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, has written to David Willetts on the subject of potential cuts, seen as a possibility given recent reports of a budget crisis in the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

The crossbench peer, who is principal of Jesus College, Oxford, tells the universities and science minister he is writing to ¡°express concern about claims that have surfaced in the media suggesting that the ring-fenced science budget may be used to shore up the department¡¯s budget in other areas¡±.

Having won a good outcome for science at the last spending review ¡°it would be¡­regrettable if the government were now to undermine their commitment to science and their reputation in the sector by drawing on the ring-fenced science budget to plug gaps in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills budget¡±.

An overspend on student support at private colleges is one factor in the budget problems at BIS.

Lord Krebs adds: ¡°There has been much to welcome in the government¡¯s approach to science and I would urge you not to jeopardise the strength of the UK¡¯s science base. I sincerely hope that you can provide some reassurance to the committee that the reports that have emerged in the press are misguided, and the ring-fenced science budget remains secure for the long term.

¡°Furthermore, it would not be desirable for other BIS activities to be brought within the science ring-fence and thereby dilute the science budget.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com