3.2 Government spending on R&D
Why is it significant?
The Government is a key investor in basic scientific research and has a leading role in creating the UK’s science capability.
	How does the UK perform?
	The UK is in the bottom half of the G7 in terms of public R&D per worker. Although the UK’s spending has increased slightly between 1997 and 2002, in common with most of the rest of the G7 (chart 3.2). As noted in the first edition, government R&D spending has been affected by cuts across the G7 in term of military R&D.