Jodrell Bank Observatory: Funding

Lord Markham Excerpts

Thursday 10th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath (Lab)]

I assure the noble Earl that the Government have put a record £86 billion into research and development between this year and 2029-30, with £38.6 billion allocated to UKRI, supporting curiosity-driven research in universities through to business innovation and commercialisation, including the creation of many jobs.

On jobs, the SKAO will return £225 million of foreign direct investment and £280 million of additional UK economic value. We continue to invest significantly in the north of England, including over £5 billion over the previous spending review and £7.4 billion over the current one, running to 2029-30.

[Lord Markham (Con)]

My Lords, when we heard the Prime Minister say on 1 September that Jodrell Bank was safe, I am sure that many people breathed a sigh of relief. But as we saw, the Written Answer from the Government on 7 September said that Jodrell Bank would remain as a heritage and education centre, with alternative funding sources. I just want to be clear: when the Prime Minister says it is safe, is he really saying that it is not safe as a government-funded scientific research centre and more that it will be kept as some tourist theme park?

[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.