£600m science capital not affected by shortfall in 4G auction

The £600 million earmarked for science infrastructure in the Autumn Statement, part-funded by the sale of the 4G mobile spectrum, is safe, a Treasury spokeswoman has told Research Fortnight. Communications regulator Ofcom announced last week that the spectrum’s sale brought in £2.34 billion. However, the Treasury had predicted it would raise £3.5bn.