Written question asked by Oliver Dowden (Conservative) on Friday, 9 October 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. It was answered by Chris McDonald (Labour) on Thursday, 15 October 2026 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

Science: Research

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what comparative cost-benefit analyses were conducted between maintaining domestic scientific infrastructure, such as the e-MERLIN array, and funding international subscriptions; and whether steps were taken during the prioritisation process to measure short-term inflation against long-term scientific capability changes.

Answer: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) undertook a structured assessment of different funding options across STFC's portfolio. This considered scientific excellence, long-term research impact, strategic importance to the UK, international leadership, value for money and the preservation of capabilities that would be difficult or impossible to recreate if lost. The prioritisation process considered a range of funding scenarios and the implications of increasing operational costs, including inflation and foreign exchange pressures. Major international subscriptions continue to be protected, while decisions across the wider portfolio were taken following extensive engagement with the research community.

Secondary information