JODRELL BANK AND THE EMERLIN PROJECT

Early day motion 1154, tabled 11 March 2008 by Nicholas Winterton (Conservative). Signed by 57 members.

That this House expresses its deep concern about the Science and Technology Funding Council's proposal to cut its annual £2 million funding for Jodrell Bank's leading participation in the eMerlin project; notes that the closure of this flagship project would threaten Jodrell Bank's future as one of the world's most advanced observatories; further notes Jodrell Bank's contribution to United Kingdom radio astronomy over many years, being home to the landmark Lovell Telescope which celebrated last October the 50th anniversary of its first scientific observations at which Sir Bernard Lovell himself was present; believes that the Science and Technology Funding Council funding proposals from April 2009 pose an unacceptable threat to the future of Jodrell Bank, the eMerlin project and radio astronomy in the UK; recognises that withdrawal from the eMerlin project will mean that the UK will effectively withdraw from its vanguard position in radio astronomy; and calls upon the Science and Technology Funding Council urgently to reconsider its proposal not to prioritise the eMerlin project and to maximise support for innovation, research and technology in radio astronomy in the United Kingdom.

Signatures by party: Labour 30, Liberal Democrat 11, Conservative 9, DUP 4, Independent 2, UUP 1.