Committee publication · Correspondence · 6 July 2026
Letter from UK Research and Innovation relating to Follow up to oral evidence session: investment in research infrastructure 11 June 2026, 25 June 2026
Summary
UKRI writes to the Public Accounts Committee following an 11 June 2026 oral evidence session on research infrastructure investment. The letter provides two follow-ups: confirmation of UKRI's commitment to maintain postdoctoral FTE numbers in particle physics, astrophysics and nuclear physics at 2025–26 levels pending final STFC decisions; and detailed regional spend data for financial years 2022–23 and 2023–24 across UK ITL1 and ITL2 areas, with methodological caveats regarding data categorisation.
Key findings
- UKRI reiterates commitment that STFC will maintain FTE postdoc numbers for particle physics, astrophysics and nuclear physics at financial year 2025–26 levels; final decisions pending.
- UKRI publishes regional investment data to improve transparency and strengthen evidence base for government alignment; data prior to FY2022–23 not directly comparable due to methodology changes enabling near-complete coverage.
- London received highest total categorised spend (£1.825bn in FY2023–24), with 79% invested in universities; Yorkshire and The Humber showed highest proportion of university spend at 93% in FY2023–24.
- Regional variation in university spend proportions ranges from 50% (West Midlands) to 96% (North Yorkshire) in FY2023–24; uncategorised spend at ITL1 level ranges 1–4%, rising to 1–22% at finer ITL2 granularity.
- UKRI categorises organisations into five types (business, higher education, private non-profit, public sector, other) with unquantifiable risk of misassignment; data for FY2024–25 expected publication summer 2026.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Public Accounts Committee, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, Professor Michele Dougherty, Emran Mian, Alex Jones
Notable line
“STFC will maintain the FTE postdoc numbers for particle physics, astrophysics and nuclear physics (PPAN) disciplines at financial year 2025 – 26 levels …”
Key Quotes
“We would like to reiterate our commitment that STFC will maintain the FTE postdoc numbers for particle physics, astrophysics and nuclear physics (PPAN) disciplines at financial year 2025 – 26 levels”
“Data published prior to financial year 2022 – 23 are not directly comparable with more recent releases, due to changes in the data collection methodology that now enable near ‑ complete coverage of UKRI spend.”
“There is an unquantifiable risk that some organisations may have been assigned to the incorrect type. We do not expect this to duly bias the regional spend summaries provided here.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗