House of Lords Science and Technology Committee
UK parliamentary committee scrutinising science and technology policy.
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee questioned UKRI chief executive Sir Ian Chapman on 14 July 2026 about the agency's funding approach, five days after a 58% cut to STFC's laboratories.
Last refreshed: 31 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why is the Lords committee scrutinising UKRI's funding approach this month?
Timeline for House of Lords Science and Technology Committee
Mentioned in: Physics loses 2.7% as STFC holds flat
UK Startups and InnovationTook oral evidence from UKRI's chief executive on its funding approach
UK Startups and Innovation: Lords question UKRI chief on fundingBackground
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee is a House of Lords select committee that sits apart from the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, holding its own brief for scrutinising government and public-body policy on Science and technology. Its membership draws on peers with scientific, engineering and policy expertise, giving it a distinct evidence-gathering role from the equivalent Commons committee.
Only the committee's published hearing listing is available in the evidence for this period, not a transcript, so specific answers given during its sessions are not reported here.
Committee questioned UKRI on funding
On 14 July 2026 the committee took oral evidence from UKRI chief executive Sir Ian Chapman on how the agency sets its funding priorities, with a new strategy due shortly . The session came five days after UKRI confirmed a 58% cut to STFC's national laboratories, in a week already busy with public-money moves from the British Business Bank and Innovate UK.
UKRI published further funding detail on 27 July, confirming STFC's overall budget would stay flat even as its Science budget falls 2.7% over four years and the Clara facility is mothballed, the kind of follow-through the committee's July hearing was set up to press on .
