The UK Government should appoint a minister with accountability for safeguarding the the UK’s critical chemical capabilities and delivering future innovation, and set out a clear long-term roadmap for the UK chemical sector within the next twelve months.
These two recommendations are made in a recently released letter to the UK Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, from the Council for Science & Technology (CST), the UK Government’s advisory body on science, engineering, technology and innovation. The letter: “Achieving Stability and Growth in the UK Chemical Sector” calls on the Government to work with the country’s chemical industry “to unlock investment and innovation, supporting re-industrialisation, protecting critical capabilities, creating skilled jobs and driving growth.”
“Despite its strategic importance, the chemical sector is in long-term decline,” the letter says. “High energy costs, ageing infrastructure and under-investment in innovation are global issues. In the UK, these are compounded by regulatory complexity, policy instability, and the absence of a long-term strategy. Crucially, responsibility is often fragmented across departmental agendas which do not align to support the sector.”
In recommending the appointment of a minister for safeguarding critical chemical capabilities, the letter says that: “The minister should be responsible for identifying the sector’s role in delivering government priorities and empowered to resolve trade-offs between policies and departments.” The letter adds: “They will need to work beyond their own department with a route to Cabinet-level decisions where agreement cannot be reached. A minister with responsibilities across BIST and DESNZ may be best placed for this role.”
Calling for a roadmap, the CST said that it should address five priorities: Defining the chemical capabilities and supply chains; assessing the viability of the UK’s chemical capabilities; setting a credible transition pathway; creating the conditions for innovation and investment; and establishing a proportionate regulatory framework.
A sector roadmap is needed to provide direction for government, business and investors and should include targets for innovation, skills and regulation the Committee said. “Realising this opportunity will require rigorous analysis, clear choices and sustained delivery. The roadmap and any interventions should be underpinned by evidence on the financial case, market dynamics and the sector’s wider dependencies,” the letter says.
The letter, which is signed Dame Angela McLean and Lord Browne of Madingley; joint co-chairs of the CST, was copied to several government departments including Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST); Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ); and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Welcoming the CST’s correspondence, SCI which contributed to the Committee’s deliberations said: “If the [Prime Minister] is serious about rebuilding British industry, securing regional prosperity, protecting and creating well-paying jobs, and ensuring the nation’s security and resilience, [he] must start with the chemicals sector.”
Further reading:
- £350 million funding for chemicals welcome - but more needs to be done says SCI
- UK high energy prices are pushing industry to the edge
- UK's last ethylene plant saved with £150 million in new funding
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