22 July 2010 Last updated at 09:05 ET

Climate study funding at Norfolk university suspended

Scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have had funding of $200,000 (£131,000) suspended by the US government in a row over e-mails.

The US Department of Energy (DoE) said it had not decided whether to reinstate the long-standing funding after the so-called ClimateGate affair.

Climate sceptics alleged leaked e-mails undermined the integrity of UEA's Climatic Research Unit (CRU).

The UEA confirmed the DoE has held off funding despite the unit being cleared.

There have been three reports into the affair.

The third and final independent review by Sir Muir Russell was commissioned by UEA following the hacking of e-mails from its servers.

Earlier this month the review concluded the rigour and honesty of scientists at the CRU was not in doubt.

However it did criticise UEA's climate scientists for their lack of openness with regard to complying with Freedom of Information (FoI) requests.

It also said the CRU was too quick to dismiss critics from outside its own circles.

Funding since 1990

The US DoE has been funding the climate science unit in Norwich since 1990.

DoE spokeswoman Stephanie Mueller said: "The Department is not currently funding them, but they do have a renewal application under review that is proceeding through the normal application process.

"The renewal application was for a May 1 renewal date but was placed on hold pending the conclusion of the report by Sir Muir Russell."

A UEA spokeswoman confirmed a decision on whether to reinstate the funding had still to be made.

"It has always been clear that the US Department of Energy would consider its decision after the outcome of the Sir Muir Russell review and we look forward to hearing from them in the near future."