Planned financial cuts to the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) could “jeopardise” the standing of UK research and innovation, the chair of the House of Commons’ Science, Innovation and Technology Committee has warned.
Chi Onwurah, the Labour MP who chairs the committee, said she recognised it was “a challenging environment in which to set funding priorities” but argued that the cuts “should not be happening”. In a statement, she added that “the committee remains deeply concerned about these cuts and their potential impact on the UK’s world-class scientific research”.
“Chi Onwurah warns STFC cuts could jeopardise UK research standing, calling them unacceptable despite tough budget climate.”
The STFC is one of the UK’s research councils, responsible for funding particle physics, astronomy, nuclear physics and space science. The reductions come as the government seeks to rein in public spending, but Onwurah’s intervention signals cross-party anxiety about the long-term damage to the country’s research base.
“UK research and innovation is one of our greatest strengths,” Onwurah said, warning that the cuts could undermine that advantage. The committee’s backing of the STFC’s work – which includes support for facilities such as the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and involvement in international projects like CERN – suggests the row is far from over.
The timing of the warning is significant: with the Treasury setting final budgets, the science community is watching closely to see whether the government will relent or press ahead with reductions that critics say will ripple through the sector for years.
