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What steps her Department is taking to maintain levels of funding for astronomy and space science.
What steps her Department is taking to maintain levels of funding for astronomy and space science.
I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I am proud that this Labour Government have committed a record £86 billion towards R&D, including on astronomy, space science and others, to supercharge innovation. Within that, UK Research and Innovation’s Science and Technology Facilities Council—the main funder of particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics—has a stable budget with increasing investment in research areas that lead to and underpin discovery.
I thank the Minister for his answer. My Oxfordshire constituency is home to Harwell campus, the UK’s largest concentration of space and science organisations. Despite what the Minister said about the budget, the need for £162 million of savings by 2030 that was imposed on the Science and Technology Facilities Council risks jobs and critical research equipment, undermining our global science leadership. Does the Minister share those concerns, and what steps will he take to protect scientific jobs and facilities?
I thank the Minister for his answer. My Oxfordshire constituency is home to Harwell campus, the UK’s largest concentration of space and science organisations. Despite what the Minister said about the budget, the need for £162 million of savings by 2030 that was imposed on the Science and Technology Facilities Council risks jobs and critical research equipment, undermining our global science leadership. Does the Minister share those concerns, and what steps will he take to protect scientific jobs and facilities?
I pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman and everyone at the Harwell campus, which hosts over £1 billion of world-leading research infrastructure. A lot of concerns have been raised by the physics community about this issue. I can confirm that funding for STFC has not been cut. UKRI has decided that STFC’s core budget should be maintained over the spending review period. Of course, we understand the cost pressures through inflation, foreign exchange and the ambitious commitments that were made from the previous spending review. No final decisions are being made, but STFC is working through that with the community.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to retain specialist staff in the space research and development sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to retain specialist staff in the space research and development sector.
The UK Space Agency, as part of DSIT, supports the retention of specialist staff in the space research and development sector through programme funding and enabling long-term international collaborations, including participation in ESA programmes and with other space agencies around the world. This attracts, trains and provides continuity of employment for highly skilled teams across academia and industry, helping to sustain specialist scientific and engineering roles and maintaining critical capabilities within UK R&D teams. In addition, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) supports space-related scientific research and skills across UK universities and research organisations. The Government's wider approach to supporting and nurturing growth and capability development in the sector is set out in the Space Industrial Plan.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of previous research grant cuts on UK space research and development.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of previous research grant cuts on UK space research and development.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next 4 years. This includes £38.6 billion allocated to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) within UKRI is not seeing an overall cut to funding, its budget will be maintained from £835 million in 2025/26 to £842 million in 2029/30. In addition, applicant-led research grants in STFC will rise from £83 million in 26/27 to £90 million in 29/30.
Due to cost pressures from rising energy, inflation, foreign exchange, and ambitious commitments from the previous SR, STFC needs to find savings relative to forecast operational costs. STFC is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). The impacts of different modelled scenarios across the broad and diverse range of STFC-funded facilities and programmes will be considered alongside feedback from the sector when taking final decisions.
The UK will also continue to invest in collaborative space science through the UK Space Agency, which has been allocated £2.8 billion over the next 4 years.
DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its specific investment decisions are informed by meaningful consultation with the scientific research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability, research institutions and international standing.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential long-term impact of the funding cuts of £162 million proposed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council on the astronomy and space science sectors.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential long-term impact of the funding cuts of £162 million proposed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council on the astronomy and space science sectors.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next 4 years. This includes £38.6 billion allocated to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) within UKRI is not seeing an overall cut to funding, its budget will be maintained from £835 million in 2025/26 to £842 million in 2029/30. In addition, applicant-led research grants in STFC will rise from £83 million in 26/27 to £90 million in 29/30.
Due to cost pressures from rising energy, inflation, foreign exchange, and ambitious commitments from the previous SR, STFC needs to find savings relative to forecast operational costs. STFC is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). The impacts of different modelled scenarios across the broad and diverse range of STFC-funded facilities and programmes will be considered alongside feedback from the sector when taking final decisions.
The UK will also continue to invest in collaborative space science through the UK Space Agency, which has been allocated £2.8 billion over the next 4 years.
DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its specific investment decisions are informed by meaningful consultation with the scientific research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability, research institutions and international standing.
What steps her Department is taking to maintain levels of funding for astronomy and space science.
What steps her Department is taking to maintain levels of funding for astronomy and space science.
I refer the honourable Member to the answer given on 21st April 2026 to question UIN 126553.
Q11
.
Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage) (LD):
On a recent visit to the UK Space Agency, based in my Oxfordshire constituency, I learned of the huge value created by our space sector, generating more than £7 for every £1 invested. Given the Government’s decision to scrap the UKSA as an executive agency, will the Prime Minister guarantee its international credibility, its operational independence and its budget? And will he visit Harwell Campus to hear what our brilliant space companies need from Government?
Q11
.
Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage) (LD):
On a recent visit to the UK Space Agency, based in my Oxfordshire constituency, I learned of the huge value created by our space sector, generating more than £7 for every £1 invested. Given the Government’s decision to scrap the UKSA as an executive agency, will the Prime Minister guarantee its international credibility, its operational independence and its budget? And will he visit Harwell Campus to hear what our brilliant space companies need from Government?
I thank the hon. Member for raising this important issue, and reassure him that we do want to keep the huge expertise and knowledge of the UK Space Agency staff, including those working in his constituency. We have already secured almost £300 million in contracts from the European Space Agency and this will cut costs, reducing duplication, so we can really focus on growing this important sector.