Thread by @martinrsmith

.@DanielZeichner citing UUK's strong letter yesterday on R&D funding, in today's debate in parliament.

ODA cuts leading to R&D grant terminations are "breaking trust". "Quite frankly shocking that the Government is punching a hole in such important research"

Zeichner: "stopping funding like this shows a blatant disregard for our international partners" - "flies in the face of the aim of making the UK a scientific superpower"

Greg Clark up next, picking up on this morning's session. "This should be a boom time for research [...] yet science is facing the prospect of having to retreat". "UKRI does not yet know what its budget will be for 2021/22"

.@GregClarkMP: now is the time for the Minister to fight for the science budget - she has the support of my Committee

.@CSkidmoreUK Just 2,115 days to go to reach the R&D investment target. I fought for UK participation in Horizon - an essential big ticket item alongside QR.

.@CSkidmoreUK we should look afresh at new structures - GCRF and Newton were a square peg in a round hole to make use of ODA. Need to move away from lots of small pots.

.@DerekThomasUK: Need to level up research on brain tumours. Only 14% of brain tumour research funding is from government. 86% from charity sector. Tumour sufferers don't have the luxury of time. Need strong supply of early stage research.

.@ChiOnwurah: There's cross-party agreement on the importance of R&D funding. But govt's warm words on science have not been backed by action. Wellcome has highlighted a "growing gulf between rhetoric and reality"

.@ASollowayUK: The decision to association to Horizon Europe came after the Spending Review, so continuing to discuss where money will come from. Working hard to confirm R&D budgets ASAP.

Solloway: officials are working with delivery partners on the impact of ODA cuts.

.@DanielZeichner winds up the debate: R&D is "what we do so well - if there's a future for Britain in the world then this is it. You don't do it by making short term cuts. I hope the message will go back to Government loud and clear that we're looking for better".