Asked by: Chris Murray (Labour - Edinburgh East and Musselburgh)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what estimate he has made of the number of research, engineering and technical posts at UK universities at risk as a result of STFC/UKRI funding decisions for 2026-27.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), as part of UK Research & Innovation, completed an evidence-based prioritisation exercise to ensure its portfolio remains financially sustainable and focused on the highest-priority scientific opportunities. Changes in STFC funding cannot be translated robustly into numbers of university jobs affected, as individual universities decide how funding changes affect their staffing.
The prioritisation exercise considered scientific excellence, long-term impact, strategic importance, value for money and preservation of capabilities. STFC grant funding for Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics postdoctoral researchers was maintained at 2025/26 levels, and PhD studentships and fellowships were also protected, helping to sustain the UK's skills base, research expertise and long-term scientific capability.
Asked by: Chris Murray (Labour - Edinburgh East and Musselburgh)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of UK funding for the Large Hadron Collider beauty upgrade on the Government’s ambition to reindustrialise the UK.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is responsible for funding prioritisation decisions. The proposed LHCb upgrade was considered first through UKRI’s Infrastructure Fund and deprioritised following independent advice from its Infrastructure Advisory Committee. The project was also considered through STFC’s evidence-based prioritisation exercise but was not allocated further funding.
This decision reflects that UKRI receives more high-quality projects than it is able to fund and investment should be focused in areas that strengthen critical capability, attract private investment, and maximise the impact of their funds.
The UK remains committed to international scientific collaboration, including our membership of CERN, as a founding member and the second-largest contributor to its budget. UK funding for experiments and researchers at CERN will continue, supporting UK participation and the international research community.
Asked by: Chris Murray (Labour - Edinburgh East and Musselburgh)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of potential financial and scientific consequences for the UK, and for CERN's partner countries, if the Large Hadron Collider beauty upgrade proceeds without UK participation.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is responsible for funding prioritisation decisions. The proposed LHCb upgrade was considered first through UKRI’s Infrastructure Fund and deprioritised following independent advice from its Infrastructure Advisory Committee. The project was also considered through STFC’s evidence-based prioritisation exercise but was not allocated further funding.
This decision reflects that UKRI receives more high-quality projects than it is able to fund and investment should be focused in areas that strengthen critical capability, attract private investment, and maximise the impact of their funds.
The UK remains committed to international scientific collaboration, including our membership of CERN, as a founding member and the second-largest contributor to its budget. UK funding for experiments and researchers at CERN will continue, supporting UK participation and the international research community.
Asked by: Chris Murray (Labour - Edinburgh East and Musselburgh)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans the Fair Work Agency has to collect data on Overseas Domestic Worker visa holders at risk of exploitation; and in what way this data will inform the Agency's enforcement priorities.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Fair Work Agency (FWA) has taken on the former Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority’s responsibility for enforcing legislation relating to labour exploitation and modern slavery.
Workers on Overseas Domestic Worker visas have the same protections and rights under employment law as British and settled workers. All employers are expected to comply with UK employment law.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 provides a robust legal framework for safe and effective information sharing and data gathering between specified bodies. The FWA will use this framework to help inform and make decisions on future priorities.
Asked by: Chris Murray (Labour - Edinburgh East and Musselburgh)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the structures in place for the Fair Work Agency to collaborate with other Government departments to (a) prevent and (b) disrupt modern slavery.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Fair Work Agency will take on the full remit of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA).
Collaborating with other government bodies will be crucial to the Fair Work Agency effectively enforcing employment rights. We have ensured it will be able to share information with specified bodies where disclosures are relevant to their statutory function.
The Government is committed to ensuring the Fair Work Agency has what it needs to do its job. The Bill therefore provides for the transfer of existing staff to ensure we retain the relevant expertise.
Asked by: Chris Murray (Labour - Edinburgh East and Musselburgh)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans he has for the future of the Fair Work Agency; what statutory duties it will assume from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority in responding to modern slavery and human trafficking; and what (a) resources, (b) staffing and (c) training he expects them to need.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Fair Work Agency will take on the full remit of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA).
Collaborating with other government bodies will be crucial to the Fair Work Agency effectively enforcing employment rights. We have ensured it will be able to share information with specified bodies where disclosures are relevant to their statutory function.
The Government is committed to ensuring the Fair Work Agency has what it needs to do its job. The Bill therefore provides for the transfer of existing staff to ensure we retain the relevant expertise.