IN MY

Addressing the Royal Society on 23 May, Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke of the importance of science to the future prosperity of Britain. He said: 'We stand on the verge of further leaps forward in scientific endeavour and discovery'. He went on: 'There is only a small band of people, I believe, who genuinely want to stifle informed debate. But a small group can, as has happened in our country, destroy experimental crops before we can determine their environmental impact. I don't know what that research would have concluded. Neither do the protestors.

The PM's address to a largely compliant audience of 'top' scientists made it clear that nothing must stand between 'responsible' society and the acquisition of knowledge. Any attempt by those who would 'spoil informed debate' will be resisted with the full panoply of the state. No contrary arguments or demonstrations will be allowed to stand in the way of officially sponsored research. The stakes are too high for frivolous opposition.

Unfortunately for Mr Blair's thesis, the idea that we must wait for results before we act to prevent scientific folly can be very expensive. Remember thalidomide Mr Blair? Remember BSE?