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 adequacy of funding for the UK's national radio astronomy facilities, including the e-MERLIN network and the Lovell Telescope.

The Government remains committed to maintaining the UK’s leadership in radio astronomy.

Jodrell Bank will continue to host the international SKAO headquarters and world-leading scientific research led by the University of Manchester (UoM). The government is supporting this commitment through £327 million of investment in the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) between 2021 and 2030. Furthermore, as part of its wider prioritisation approach, STFC has maintained grant funding for Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics postdoctoral researchers at 2025/26 levels, and protected PhD studentships and fellowships. The e-MERLIN network, including the Lovell Telescope, is owned and operated by UoM.