Science and Technology Facilities Council: Cost Effectiveness
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his Department will conduct a facility by facility review of the savings proposed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council before any final decisions are taken.
Answered by Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
UK Research and Innovation and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) have already undertaken an evidence-based prioritisation exercise across STFC's portfolio, and the resulting decisions have been published. The process considered a range of funding scenarios and was informed by extensive engagement with the research community, expert advisory bodies and facilities’ leadership teams. The recommendations were subsequently reviewed by the UKRI Executive Committee and approved by the UKRI Board. These decisions were reached through UKRI's established prioritisation and governance processes, drawing on expert advice. The Government therefore has no plans to undertake a separate review. The Science and Technology Facilities Council's core budget has been maintained over the Spending Review period, from £835 million in 2025/26 to £842 million in 2029/30.
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