Fewer pupils are studying for chemistry and physics GCSEs

The party's science task force has suggested that science A-levels should be worth more points to school leavers going to university.

The move follows complaints Britain is producing too few scientists.

Fewer teenagers are studying science, although there are more jobs in the science sector. The task force believes incentives could be the answer.

Incentives 'needed'

Under the current system, students going through the universities and colleges admissions service Ucas are given points based on what grade they get.

The Tory party's science task force is one of the policy review groups set up by party leader David Cameron.

Sources on the task force suggest pure science A-levels could be made to be worth 50% more than other subjects.

They acknowledge it is a provocative idea but they say it is necessary if the UK is not to fall behind economies such as China and India.

They said that if the problem was not addressed before the next general election in 2009, Britain was "going to be struggling"

On Sunday, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said UK schools let down business by producing too few scientists.

The business organisation said the current system, under which most pupils study for a "combined science" double GCSE - rather than chemistry, physics and biology separately - meant the curriculum had been "stripped down".