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Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
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Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

UK House of Commons committee scrutinising science and technology policy.

Last refreshed: 22 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Which Commons committee is probing STFC's funding cuts?

Background

The committee is due to receive a letter from STFC Executive Chair Michele Dougherty and UKRI chief executive Sir Ian Chapman addressing headcount reductions described as "probably in the hundreds", following UKRI's confirmation that STFC funding to national laboratories will be cut by 58% over four years.

This is the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, chaired since September 2024 by Dame Chi Onwurah MP, member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West. It scrutinises the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the bodies it funds, including UKRI. It is a separate body from the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, which sits in the upper chamber and separately took oral evidence from UKRI's Sir Ian Chapman on 14 July 2026 on the agency's funding strategy.

With Commons and Lords committees now running parallel inquiries into the same STFC funding settlement, this committee sits at the centre of Parliament's scrutiny of how the UK pays for its national research infrastructure.

Common Questions
Who chairs the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee?
Dame Chi Onwurah MP, member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West, has chaired the committee since September 2024.
What does the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee do?
It is a House of Commons select committee that scrutinises the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the bodies it funds, including UKRI.
Is the Commons committee the same as the Lords Science and Technology Committee?
No. They are separate bodies in different chambers; the Lords committee separately took evidence from UKRI's Sir Ian Chapman on 14 July 2026.Source: event
Why did UKRI write to the Commons Science Committee?
To address headcount reductions described as "probably in the hundreds" after UKRI confirmed a 58% cut to STFC national laboratory funding.Source: event