A committee of MPs has called on the government to end short-term research contracts.

Members of the Commons science and technology committee warned on Wednesday that over 40,000 researchers working in Britain's universities are on short-term contracts - some of only a month's duration.

Committee members found half the people working on science and engineering projects did not have permanent terms of employment and slammed universities, and the Research Council which funds work in universities.

The committee accused universities of failing their workforce through "poor management and planning" and claimed the Research Council had not taken responsibility for the projects it funded.

Successive governments also bore responsibility for failing to understand that short-term grants created instability, said the MPs.

Dr Ian Gibson, the committee's chairman, demanded that ministers took action.

"The government has put some welcome funding into science but it will not get value for money while our researchers are spending al their time making job applications," he warned.