BP and BAE Systems are among British companies that slashed their research and development spending last year, according to government figures that show a 9 per cent rise in R&D investment by top UK groups.

The annual R&D Scoreboard, published on Monday by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, says the 850 largest companies, including subsidiaries of foreign groups, spent almost £21bn ($43.6m) on R&D in 2006.