Brown: CSR close to completion

The government was on Monday told that it must spend more on training in the areas of science and technology if it is to lift productivity across the hard-pressed manufacturing sector.

The Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) said more cash must be spent in the area.

In a submission to the chancellor, who will this week finalise his comprehensive spending review, the body said that targeted assistance would aid recovery of the manufacturing sector.

It claimed the cash would "address market failures and make an important contribution to international competitiveness''.

"On the basis of past recessions, manufacturing productivity should accelerate strongly in the next nine months," said the submission.

The EEF's director general, Martin Temple, said: "Increased investment in our science and technology base would provide valuable recognition of its importance in building high value manufacturing."