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.

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.