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Written question asked by Tim Loughton (Conservative) on Thursday, 11 March 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 March 2021 (named day). It was answered by Amanda Solloway (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 March 2021 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Burlington House: Rents

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of rent increases at Burlington House on (a) STEM skills, (b) scientific research and (c) international scientific collaboration.

Answer

The Government appreciates the great work of the UK’s many great Learned Societies, including those located at Burlington House. They have made vast contributions to their respective fields over their long histories, and are vital to the networking, visibility, and overall health of the disciplines they represent.

We recognise the proposed rent increases do introduce a challenge to their current level of operations. Learned Societies are independent of government and will be best placed to make decisions on how they can best move forward and adapt to changing circumstances. We hope they will continue to make the contributions that they do to STEM skills, Scientific Research, and International Collaboration. I am aware that the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, along with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, are exploring whether there is a solution that can deliver value for taxpayers and help the Learned Societies to remain at New Burlington House.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
167153
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Research Rents Skilled workers Science STEM subjects Burlington House
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk