THE Government has defended its record on funding science, following criticism from Durham University.

Last week, the university's Physics Department wrote to John Denham, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), to express concern at an 80m shortfall in funding for the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

The professors said the budget black hole put their world-leading research in particle physics and astronomy at risk.

However, a DIUS spokesman has defended the decision to cut grants in these areas.

"The overall science budget will be almost 4bn per year by 2010-11, taking our support for the UK's research base to its highest level ever," the spokesman said.

"What's more there has not been a cut in our overall expenditure on Physics with the STFC receiving a 13.6 per cent increase in funding.

"Although STFC are reducing grants for astronomy and particle physics in universities they will increase expenditure on prestigious projects such as the CERN laboratory in Geneva, the European Space Agency and the European Southern Observatory.

"Investment in these areas will rise from 164m in 2007/08 to 187m per year in 2010/11.

"Funding for Physics is also provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council which will increase its core funding for Physics departments and facilities to 137m over the same period.

"We also expect the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council to increase their 40m per year investment in biophysics leading to increased opportunities for physicists in this area."

An online petition calling on the Prime Minister to reverse the decision to cut funding to particle physics and astronomy had last night been signed by almost 9,000 people.