Derek Twigg MP has spoken out on behalf of Science Discovery Centres as a major local hub revealed major financial concerns.

A debate held in Parliament on Wednesday 14th January saw MPs urge the government to tackle funding shortages which have affected science centres across the UK, including the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum in Widnes.

Speaking in the debate, Derek said: “This brilliant institution is a hub for research, development, and learning. Generations of people from our region have benefited from the pioneering work done at the centre and its outstanding STEM education, and it is a point of pride that my constituency serves as its home.

The Catalyst Centre receives no public funding of any kind but operates as an independent charity. Its trustees tell me that they spend a huge amount of time fundraising particularly because of rising operational and salary costs and also the aging nature of their capital equipment and building. I therefore urge the Minister to do everything it can to help centres like Catalyst.”

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre Trustee Dr Diana Leitch MBE said: “The Trustees and staff of Catalyst are very grateful to Derek Twigg, who is not only our local MP but also a very supportive Patron of Catalyst, for his bringing to the attention of the Parliamentary Committee the critical needs of Catalyst and the work that it does for both the local people of Halton and NW Region. Its vital heritage and educational work, as the only Science Centre specialising in the chemical sciences, are still provided as they have been for 39 years, but we urgently need national government support for this to continue.”

The debate saw contributions from MPs from across the UK with science centres in their constituencies, who highlighted the importance of their work to education, development and the economy.

Derek said: “I was pleased to be able to speak on behalf of Catalyst, who have been very helpful in explaining to me some of the pressures facing these vital institutions. I was pleased to hear the Minister’s response, which made clear the government’s commitment to STEM education and recognition of the many ways in which these centres contribute to national development. I welcome the assurance that the various government departments with some responsibility in this area will be working together to help bring a range of opportunities to these centres.

He added: “I will continue to work closely with Catalyst to raise awareness of these issues, and I will closely monitor developments going forward.”