Jodrell Bank Observatory: Funding
Debate between Lord Wigley and Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath
Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath (Lab)
I repeat that Jodrell Bank is not closing, and nor is scientific research on it closing. UKRI is focusing resources on the future with the SKAO and its global HQ at Jodrell, investing over £300 million from 2021 to 2030. Jodrell Bank, including the Lovell telescope, which is owned and operated by the University of Manchester, is exploring alternative funding arrangements for delivering on that. Finally, on that point, I emphasise that the SKAO will have a vastly more powerful and broader science range than e-MERLIN when it becomes fully operational.
Lord Wigley (PC)
My Lords, I draw attention to my registered interests and the fact that I received my physics degree at the University of Manchester, partly facilitated at Jodrell Bank. Can the Minister give an assurance that these changes will affect neither the teaching capacity associated with Jodrell Bank nor the use of the inspirational sky dome there, which is an essential part of the UNESCO world heritage site designation?
Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath (Lab)
Understandably, there is great public support for the UNESCO world heritage centre that is Jodrell Bank, which has 150,000 visitors a year. That will not change, and nor will the engagement and education programme on those decisions.