Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what estimate he has made of the number of research, engineering and technical posts at UK universities at risk as a result of STFC/UKRI funding decisions for 2026-27.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), as part of UK Research & Innovation, completed an evidence-based prioritisation exercise to ensure its portfolio remains financially sustainable and focused on the highest-priority scientific opportunities. Changes in STFC funding cannot be translated robustly into numbers of university jobs affected, as individual universities decide how funding changes affect their staffing.

The prioritisation exercise considered scientific excellence, long-term impact, strategic importance, value for money and preservation of capabilities. STFC grant funding for Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics postdoctoral researchers was maintained at 2025/26 levels, and PhD studentships and fellowships were also protected, helping to sustain the UK's skills base, research expertise and long-term scientific capability.