1-20 of 327 results for subject:Biology
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To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with her Scottish counterparts on ensuring the sustainability of high-quality biology teaching.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with her Scottish counterparts on ensuring the sustainability of high-quality biology teaching.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has not had any discussions with her Scottish counterpart specifically regarding supporting teaching in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects. However, Ministers have had valuable discussions at four nations meetings and officials maintain contact around issues of mutual interest, including STEM education.
To ask His Majesty's Government how they regulate biological gain-of-function research, and whether they plan to change or develop regulation of that research.
To ask His Majesty's Government how they regulate biological gain-of-function research, and whether they plan to change or develop regulation of that research.
Gain of function research changes the genetic material of a living organism to alter the way that organism behaves. This research sometimes takes place on pathogens to helps us to prevent and respond to future pandemics. The UK has a set of regulations in place to safely unlock the benefits of this research on pathogens whilst protecting from misuse. The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations ensure the safety of the people doing the research and the environment whilst the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 regulates the possession and use of specific pathogens and toxins. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of these regulations, including through ongoing engagement with the EngBio Responsible Innovation Advisory Panel.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he is taking steps with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) his international counterparts to develop legally-binding international regulations for biological research that poses potential security risks.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he is taking steps with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) his international counterparts to develop legally-binding international regulations for biological research that poses potential security risks.
The Government published the UK Biological Security Strategy on 12 June 2023. Our vision is that, by 2030, the UK is resilient to a spectrum of biological threats, and is a world leader in responsible innovation, shaping international norms and standards to help improve our lives and the health of the planet. Government departments will work together towards this.
The Government will also continue to use the UK’s wider international influence to encourage appropriate biosafety and biosecurity regulations, including through the International Tech Strategy. This will aim to drive global technical standards, sector-specific regulations and conventions for the safe and reliable uptake and commercialisation of engineering biology.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support the commercialisation of synthetic biology research in the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support the commercialisation of synthetic biology research in the UK.
The Science and Technology Framework published on 6th March identified engineering biology as one of the technologies that are most critical for the UK. The framework outlines the Government's approach to supporting the growth of these critical technologies in the UK, for example through investing in R&D, addressing skills shortages, financing innovative companies, examining regulations and standards, and a raft of other measures. Much of this will be done through grants and programmes issued by this Department via UKRI, such as the £250 million in March that we announced to fund new technology missions, including missions on engineering biology.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support synthetic biology research.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support synthetic biology research.
The Science and Technology Framework published on 6th March identified engineering biology as one of the technologies that are most critical for the UK. The framework outlines the Government's approach to supporting the growth of these critical technologies in the UK, for example through investing in R&D, addressing skills shortages, financing innovative companies, examining regulations and standards, and a raft of other measures. Much of this will be done through grants and programmes issued by this Department via UKRI, such as the £250 million in March that we announced to fund new technology missions, including missions on engineering biology.
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date the cross-departmental governance board, referenced in their paper UK Biological Security Strategy, published on 30 July 2018, had its first meeting.
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date the cross-departmental governance board, referenced in their paper UK Biological Security Strategy, published on 30 July 2018, had its first meeting.
The UK Biological Security Strategy Governance Board first met in December 2018. The Governance Board is supported and informed by the UK Biological Security Strategy Working Group.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many meetings the Biological Security Strategy Governance Board had with the Minister for Security in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, and (3) 2020.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many meetings the Biological Security Strategy Governance Board had with the Minister for Security in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, and (3) 2020.
The UK Biological Security Strategy Governance Board has not directly met the Security Minister but has been briefed on the work of the Biological Security Strategy.
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date the cross-departmental governance board, referenced in their paper UK Biological Security Strategy, published on 30 July 2018, was set up.
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date the cross-departmental governance board, referenced in their paper UK Biological Security Strategy, published on 30 July 2018, was set up.
The UK Biological Security Strategy Governance Board was set up in October 2018. The Governance Board is supported and informed by the UK Biological Security Strategy Working Group.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many officials from the Ministry of Defence were members of the Biological Security Strategy Governance Board in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, and (3) 2020.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many officials from the Ministry of Defence were members of the Biological Security Strategy Governance Board in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, and (3) 2020.
The Ministry of Defence’s representation on the Biological Security Strategy Governance Board consists of either one or two representatives, depending on the meeting agenda. This has not changed since 2018.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many meetings the Biological Security Strategy Governance Board had with the Secretary of State for Defence in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, and (3) 2020.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many meetings the Biological Security Strategy Governance Board had with the Secretary of State for Defence in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, and (3) 2020.
The Governance Board has not met with the Secretary of State for Defence.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the cross-Government director-level governance board referred to in the UK Biological Security Strategy met between July 2018 and July 2019.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the cross-Government director-level governance board referred to in the UK Biological Security Strategy met between July 2018 and July 2019.
The UK Biological Security Strategy Governance Board met in December 2018 and July 2019 during this period. The Governance Board is supported and informed by the Biological Security Strategy Working Group which has met twelve times, the most recent meeting was in March 2020.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Threats, Hazards, Resilience and Contingencies sub-committee of the National Security Council has met to consider a report from the cross-Government director-level governance board referred to in the UK Biological Security Strategy; and if so, when.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Threats, Hazards, Resilience and Contingencies sub-committee of the National Security Council has met to consider a report from the cross-Government director-level governance board referred to in the UK Biological Security Strategy; and if so, when.
The focus since publication has been on developing and normalising the governance structure, building a biological security community, and mapping current departmental biological security related workstreams and a first cross-government report is in its final drafting stages. The THRC was a former sub-Committee of the National Security Council up until July 2019 and no longer sits anymore. We do not comment on specific National Security Council Agenda items.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the cross-Government governance board, referenced in their UK Biological Security Strategy, published in July 2018, met in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, and (3) 2020.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the cross-Government governance board, referenced in their UK Biological Security Strategy, published in July 2018, met in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, and (3) 2020.
The main focus over the last twelve months has been to develop the governance structures and cross-government biological security community. There are already processes in place for sharing information between departments. Enhancements to data sharing will be one of many areas that will likely be considered by the Biological Security Strategy Governance Board after the COVID-19 response.
To ask Her Majesty's Government who were the members of the cross-Government governance board referenced in their UK Biological Security Strategy, published in July 2018, in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, and (3) 2020.
To ask Her Majesty's Government who were the members of the cross-Government governance board referenced in their UK Biological Security Strategy, published in July 2018, in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, and (3) 2020.
The main focus over the last twelve months has been to develop the governance structures and cross-government biological security community. There are already processes in place for sharing information between departments. Enhancements to data sharing will be one of many areas that will likely be considered by the Biological Security Strategy Governance Board after the COVID-19 response.
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their commitments outlined in the UK Biological Security Strategy, published in July 2018, what options they have explored for a cross-Government data platform to improve data sharing between sectors.
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their commitments outlined in the UK Biological Security Strategy, published in July 2018, what options they have explored for a cross-Government data platform to improve data sharing between sectors.
The main focus over the last twelve months has been to develop the governance structures and cross-government biological security community. There are already processes in place for sharing information between departments. Enhancements to data sharing will be one of many areas that will likely be considered by the Biological Security Strategy Governance Board after the COVID-19 response.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much annual funding the International Biological Security Programme received in (1) 2016, (2) 2017, (3) 2018, (4) 2019, and (5) 2020. [T]
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much annual funding the International Biological Security Programme received in (1) 2016, (2) 2017, (3) 2018, (4) 2019, and (5) 2020. [T]
The Ministry of Defence has provided annual funding for the International Biological Security Programme in these Financial Years as follows:
2016-17 - £300,000
2017-18 - £300,000
2018-19 - £200,000
2019-20 - £200,000
2020-21 - £200,000
During this period the International Biological Security Programme has received the following additional funding from cross-Government funds:
2018-19 - £140,000
2019-20 - £585,000
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the UK Biological Security Strategy, published June 2018, what steps he has taken to establish a central point of contact (a) on dual-use biological research and (b) to review the Government's approach to dual-use bio research.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the UK Biological Security Strategy, published June 2018, what steps he has taken to establish a central point of contact (a) on dual-use biological research and (b) to review the Government's approach to dual-use bio research.
We continue to support and recognise the value of biological research.
The potential security risk from dual-use of some biological research is recognised in the UK Biological Security Strategy and Government departments continue to monitor emerging technologies and work to mitigate these risks, whilst continuing to build the right regulatory environment for innovation.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the UK Biological Security Strategy, published in June 2018, what steps she is taking to promote a responsible biological sciences research culture in the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the UK Biological Security Strategy, published in June 2018, what steps she is taking to promote a responsible biological sciences research culture in the UK.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC), both part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), have a position statement in place on Dual Use, jointly with the Welcome Trust https://mrc.ukri.org/research/policies-and-guidance-for-researchers/managing-risks-of-research-misuse/
The research community must take active steps to develop mechanisms of self-governance, and that through doing so researchers can ensure that responsibly conducted research is not unnecessarily obstructed. UKRI-BBSRC and UKRI-MRC also have internal processes in place to review research grant applicants where Dual Use concerns arise during the course of peer review.
That this House celebrates the Royal Society of Biology's ninth nationwide Biology Week from 5 to 13 October 2019; notes that among its key objectives is a commitment to encourage an interest in science among young people; congratulates the society on its initiative and on the range of innovative events and activities that have been organised; further congratulates the society on its wider role in promoting events in Parliament on behalf of the science and engineering community to assist Members in their understanding of science; applauds the efforts that are being made throughout the UK, especially by teachers in primary and secondary schools, to revitalise the science curriculum and to convey the excitement of science to pupils and students; further notes the wide range of activities organised by the society in local communities all over the country, which were designed to illustrate and focus on the vital role of biology and the biological sciences; further notes that on 9 October the parliamentary launch of Biology Week was co-sponsored by the hon. Members for North Norfolk, for South Basildon and East Thurrock, for Glasgow North West and for Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central; commends the society on entering its 10th anniversary year as the unified voice for the biological sciences; and highlights the unrivalled contribution that the study of biology and the biological sciences have made and continue to make to our understanding of nature, to quality of life and to the knowledge economy of the 21st century.
That this House celebrates the Royal Society of Biology's ninth nationwide Biology Week from 5 to 13 October 2019; notes that among its key objectives is a commitment to encourage an interest in science among young people; congratulates the society on its initiative and on the range of innovative events...