Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how many external independent academic peer reviews were commissioned to inform the Science and Technology Facilities Council's 2026–2030 prioritisation outcomes; and if he will publish these review findings.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) prioritisation process was informed by extensive engagement with the research community, expert advisory bodies and specialist staff. This included more than 10 engagement events, written input from 48 project leads, and more than 30 Science Board, Council and expert advisory panel meetings. Science Board (Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics) completed a comprehensive appraisal of options based on information provided by individual projects, while Science Board (Facilities and Laboratories) and the cross-UKRI Facilities Strategic Advisory Group were consulted on facilities options. No external independent academic peer reviews were commissioned specifically for this prioritisation exercise. Science Board advice is provided confidentially and is not routinely published.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the planned cessation of STFC funding for e-MERLIN and Jodrell Bank scientific operations by April 2028 on the number of highly skilled jobs, technical expertise, and post-doctoral research positions.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Jodrell Bank Observatory is not closing and remains an important UK science asset. UK Research and Innovation funds specific programmes, including the e-MERLIN radio telescope network, rather than the Observatory site itself. Current e-MERLIN funding remains in place until 31 March 2028. The prioritisation exercise considered scientific excellence, long-term impact, strategic importance, value for money and preservation of capabilities. The Government recognises the importance of highly skilled technical and scientific expertise and STFC will be protecting PPAN (Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics) grant postdoctoral funding maintained at 2025/26 levels, alongside PhD studentships and fellowships.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what comparative cost-benefit analyses were conducted between maintaining domestic scientific infrastructure, such as the e-MERLIN array, and funding international subscriptions; and whether steps were taken during the prioritisation process to measure short-term inflation against long-term scientific capability changes.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) undertook a structured assessment of different funding options across STFC's portfolio. This considered scientific excellence, long-term research impact, strategic importance to the UK, international leadership, value for money and the preservation of capabilities that would be difficult or impossible to recreate if lost. The prioritisation process considered a range of funding scenarios and the implications of increasing operational costs, including inflation and foreign exchange pressures. Major international subscriptions continue to be protected, while decisions across the wider portfolio were taken following extensive engagement with the research community.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of specialised rocket propulsion testing facilities, in supporting academic research, student competitions, and start-up enterprise testing.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK Space Agency (UKSA), in 2021/22, assessed the sector’s need for a publicly funded propulsion test facility. As a result, £4 million was invested into opening the National Space Propulsion Test Facility (NSPTF) at Westcott in 2022, providing UK industry and academia with access to specialist high-altitude and vacuum-enabled propulsion testing.
NSPTF strengthens UK sovereign capability, enabling domestic engine-testing, reducing reliance on overseas infrastructure.
Nammo UK’s LEROS engine, tested at NSPTF, powering Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost mission, successfully landing on the Moon in March 2025.
UKSA also supports skills development through University of Sheffield’s Race-2-Space competition, hosted at Westcott. Race-2-Space 2026 involved 30 student teams, giving future engineers practical, hands-on propulsion testing experience.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what funding or resources are being made available through the UK Space Agency to support university-led propulsion testing initiatives and competitions to encourage more STEM graduates into the domestic space sector.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Space Agency provides dedicated support for university-led rocketry and propulsion skills through its £5 million Rocketry Research, Training and Teaching programme. This funds research and doctoral training and student competitions, including Race2Space, where university teams design, build and hot-fire rocket engines at the Westcott Space Cluster, home to the National Space Propulsion Test Facility.
UKSA funds approximately 50 paid internship placements with space-sector employers yearly, providing students which hands-on experience of current space projects, and practical work experience. Internship placements include multiple propulsion projects.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support hands-on, practical student rocketry and space engineering competitions, to help tackle skills shortages in the UK space sector.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Space Agency supports practical routes into space careers through its Education and Future Workforce Programme.
In partnership with the European Space Agency, we deliver student competitions such as CanSat, and support university networks and UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space.
UKSA’s £5 million Rocketry Research, Training and Teaching programme supports doctoral training and student rocketry competitions, helping participants develop technical, teamwork and project skills relevant to the UK launch sector.
The UKSA also funds approximately 50 paid internship placements with space-sector employers every year, providing students with hands-on experience of space projects, and practical work experience.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what conversations has his Department had with Race 2 Space.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Space Agency (UKSA), which is now part of the DBIST, is a key sponsor of Race 2 Space alongside a number of industry partners and Buckinghamshire Council.
The Race 2 Space competition provides student teams the opportunity to develop practical, hands-on experience of building and testing a rocket engine which are vital skills to support a thriving spacecraft propulsion and launch sector.
Alongside funding, UKSA has supported the team at the University of Sheffield in designing the competition and mentoring students.
The UKSA’s funding of the Race 2 Space Competition sits alongside a broader skills programme supporting students across the UK.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has referred to the Financial Reporting Council the conduct of KPMG in relation to its reviews of Drax Group plc’s biomass sustainability reporting and the treatment of those findings in the company’s annual reports.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has been in dialogue with other regulators including the Financial Conduct Authority and Ofgem regarding KPMG’s work in relation to Drax’s biomass sustainability reporting. As KPMG’s work for Drax was undertaken as an advisory review rather than as statutory audit work, this does not fall within the FRC’s statutory audit regulatory remit. The FRC continues to monitor this case and will consider any further relevant information.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking with local councils to tackle the anti-social use of fireworks in Hertfordshire.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Local authorities and the police have powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by misuse of fireworks. New Respect Orders will empower police and local councils, via court mandates, to impose stringent behavioural restrictions on individuals who repeatedly engage in antisocial behaviour. I recently met with the Scottish Government and was interested to hear about the initiatives they are deploying to tackle anti-social use of fireworks. Engagement with devolved governments and local authorities are a key part of the evidence gathering process as we consider future decisions in relation to the regulation of fireworks.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
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 potential impact of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 on tackling the purchase of fireworks for anti-social use.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
There has been no assessment on the impact of the fireworks regulations 2004 on tackling purchase of fireworks for anti-social use.
I recognise that people hold a range of views on this issue. On 19th January, MPs debated two e-petitions relating to the sale and noise of fireworks respectively. As the Minister responsible, I will ensure that all evidence gathered, including views from the debate, and experiences shared by members of the public, are fully considered. I can assure you that public safety, the impact on people, animals and property, will remain central to this work.