An RSC spokesman said: "We hope the government is taking notice: hundreds of highly-skilled jobs are seeping out of the country. They must act now to help plug the gaps before it's too late. With massive R&D job cuts like this, alongside those in the pharmaceutical industry, how can they justify their vision of a high-tech British economy? 

"As ever the RSC will be supporting its members at Shell who are facing redundancy - we'll be in touch to make sure they get the best support at this difficult time."