Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Conclusion 15
16th Report - UK Research and Innovation: Investment in research infrastructure
Published 21 Oct 2026
Addressed to HM Treasury
Public Accounts Committee Investment in research infrastructure All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
UKRI told us that its objectives include ensuring that regional growth is considered in its investments, but it has no particular target associated with this.28 According to UKRI, in the last five years its distribution of funding to the north of England has increased from 12% to around 20%. The Department attributes this to the increased quality of research taking place outside the ‘Greater South East’ (which is made up of the London, South East and East of England regions) as a result of targeted programmes like Strength in Places.29 However, in 2023–24, half of UKRI’s investment still went to the ‘Greater South East’.30
From: Public Accounts Committee, 16th Report - UK Research and Innovation: Investment in research infrastructure (HC 104), 21 October 2026
Government response
Government response awaited: deadline 21 December 2026.