THE CBI has welcomed Tony Blair's comments that science was critical to the country's economy.

Malcolm Hyde,CBI South East regional director, said: "The region has a world class science base and it is critical that this key economic strength is built upon and not allowed to whither.

"The Government has taken some positive steps to support science-based industries but, despite record investment, weaknesses remain in the schools system. Thousands of school pupils are being turned off science and potential scientists lost to other careers because of a stripped-down science curriculum, a lack of specialist teachers and uninspiring careers advice."

The number of A level pupils studying physics has fallen by 56 per cent in 20 years. Over the same period those studying A level chemistry has dropped 37 per cent.

But demand for chemists, physicists, engineers, and lab technicians has been rising and, according to the CBI, the country will need to have found 2.4 million new people with these skills to meet expected need by 2014.