Last week's poll: The UK's new £1.2bn supercomputer

In a split that echoes another divisive vote of recent years, 52 per cent of respondents said the supercomputer was a good investment, while 48 per cent disagreed.

Advances in computing power have greatly improved weather forecasting, appearing to discern some form of order from what are inherently chaotic systems. According to the Met Office, which will manage the new supercomputer, data from the device will be used to help more accurately predict storms, as well as identify the best locations for flood defences and predict changes to the global climate.

But at a time when much of the country is recovering from severe flooding, some see the outlay of £1.2bn on a supercomputer as an indulgence, believing the money would be better spent on improving flood defences or supporting the recovery of the affected communities.

"It seems to me that the forecasting for BOTH recent storms were spot on so why on earth do we need to spend £1.2 billion (which will probably end up being double that estimate) when that money could be used to enhance our poor flood defences," commented Ron Shilton. "The hundreds of families whose homes have been wrecked by these two storms will get no comfort from hearing this announcement!"