To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what comparative cost-benefit analyses were conducted between maintaining domestic scientific infrastructure, such as the e-MERLIN array, and funding international subscriptions; and whether steps were taken during the prioritisation process to measure short-term inflation against long-term scientific capability changes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what comparative cost-benefit analyses were conducted between maintaining domestic scientific infrastructure, such as the e-MERLIN array, and funding international subscriptions; and whether steps were taken during the prioritisation process to measure short-term inflation against long-term scientific capability changes.

What steps his Department has taken to support investment in science and research.

What steps his Department has taken to support investment in science and research.

As this is my first run-out in my new brief, I thought it might be nice to just take a moment to recognise the work of Lord Vallance as Science Minister and Lord Stockwood as Investment Minister, and thank them very much for their work.

As we have just heard from...

As this is my first run-out in my new brief, I thought it might be nice to just take a moment to recognise the work of Lord Vallance as Science Minister and Lord Stockwood as Investment Minister, and thank them very much for their work.

As we have just heard from...

I welcome the new Minister to his new place. Despite the Government’s significant funding increases to science generally, the Science and Technology Facilities Council is facing significant cost pressures. I met recently with some STFC-funded former colleagues who fear an exodus of professional talent from the UK because of those...

I welcome the new Minister to his new place. Despite the Government’s significant funding increases to science generally, the Science and Technology Facilities Council is facing significant cost pressures. I met recently with some STFC-funded former colleagues who fear an exodus of professional talent from the UK because of those...

It is important to recognise that the changes have an impact on the staff that work for the STFC. I have been in the unfortunate position of working in a company undertaking such a restructure—and of having to do such restructures in the past—and I appreciate how difficult that is...

It is important to recognise that the changes have an impact on the staff that work for the STFC. I have been in the unfortunate position of working in a company undertaking such a restructure—and of having to do such restructures in the past—and I appreciate how difficult that is...

Harpenden is home to Rothamsted Research and our universities lead the world, yet too much of that brilliance never leaves the lab. Will the Minister look at Lib Dem proposals to bring in a standard national framework for spin-out IP, and quintuple proof-of-concept funding, so Britain’s discoveries scale here and...

Harpenden is home to Rothamsted Research and our universities lead the world, yet too much of that brilliance never leaves the lab. Will the Minister look at Lib Dem proposals to bring in a standard national framework for spin-out IP, and quintuple proof-of-concept funding, so Britain’s discoveries scale here and...

I agree with the hon. Member’s point about the need for Britain’s discoveries to be scaled at home rather than abroad. I am taking an end-to-end approach on that, starting with scientific discovery and hopefully ending with large companies listed on the London stock exchange, supporting businesses throughout that process....

I agree with the hon. Member’s point about the need for Britain’s discoveries to be scaled at home rather than abroad. I am taking an end-to-end approach on that, starting with scientific discovery and hopefully ending with large companies listed on the London stock exchange, supporting businesses throughout that process....

I call the Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.

I call the Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.

I welcome the Minister to his new role as well as this Government’s emphasis on driving growth through innovation in every region of our country, as recommended by my Committee’s recent report, “Flying Blind”. It was called that because it identified a lack of data and information about the factors...

I welcome the Minister to his new role as well as this Government’s emphasis on driving growth through innovation in every region of our country, as recommended by my Committee’s recent report, “Flying Blind”. It was called that because it identified a lack of data and information about the factors...

My hon. Friend and I share a great confidence in data and a desire to make decisions based on it. With the regional disparities that she is describing, I have looked at the data and there is a clear distinction between the proportion of UKRI funding and UKRI spin-outs, for...

My hon. Friend and I share a great confidence in data and a desire to make decisions based on it. With the regional disparities that she is describing, I have looked at the data and there is a clear distinction between the proportion of UKRI funding and UKRI spin-outs, for...

Universal Quantum, born out of the University of Sussex, is based in my constituency. It is developing a unique trapped-ion modular technology for quantum computing at scale. It received $77 million from the German Government in 2022, and last week secured $100 million of Series A funding from investors, including...

Universal Quantum, born out of the University of Sussex, is based in my constituency. It is developing a unique trapped-ion modular technology for quantum computing at scale. It received $77 million from the German Government in 2022, and last week secured $100 million of Series A funding from investors, including...

The situation that the hon. Member described about the loss of UK quantum companies, largely under the previous Government, is exactly why my predecessor was determined to set up the ProQure programme, to ensure that the UK is leading the procurement of quantum computing and enabling the growth of UK...

The situation that the hon. Member described about the loss of UK quantum companies, largely under the previous Government, is exactly why my predecessor was determined to set up the ProQure programme, to ensure that the UK is leading the procurement of quantum computing and enabling the growth of UK...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he is taking to help support the creation of science and research development job opportunities for young people in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he is taking to help support the creation of science and research development job opportunities for young people in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

What steps he is taking to help preserve scientific research infrastructure.

What steps he is taking to help preserve scientific research infrastructure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consideration her Department has given in developing the revised national curriculum to how subjects including religious education and science can complement statutory relationships and sex education by providing pupils with the knowledge and understanding needed to support healthy relationships and sexual...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consideration her Department has given in developing the revised national curriculum to how subjects including religious education and science can complement statutory relationships and sex education by providing pupils with the knowledge and understanding needed to support healthy relationships and sexual...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of withdrawing UK Research and Innovation operational funding for international research facilities on UK operational standing within those international science infrastructure projects and the retention of UK-based scientific...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of withdrawing UK Research and Innovation operational funding for international research facilities on UK operational standing within those international science infrastructure projects and the retention of UK-based scientific...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the role played by [i] Leicestershire and [ii] East Midlands in the fostering of scientific expertise and knowledge to [a] advance the UK's reputation for scientific research and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the role played by [i] Leicestershire and [ii] East Midlands in the fostering of scientific expertise and knowledge to [a] advance the UK's reputation for scientific research and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, following the redistribution of the responsibilities of the Department for Science and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure the effective oversight of science and technology investment for projects that involve the interest of several different Government...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, following the redistribution of the responsibilities of the Department for Science and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure the effective oversight of science and technology investment for projects that involve the interest of several different Government...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what discussions he has had with Cabinet Colleagues on the role of science in the national security of the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what discussions he has had with Cabinet Colleagues on the role of science in the national security of the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Recommendation 7 of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, what progress has he made in establishing a revitalised system for science and technology and innovation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Recommendation 7 of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, what progress has he made in establishing a revitalised system for science and technology and innovation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the scientific evidence on the environmental impacts of managed heather burning on deep peat; and whether it has commissioned any independent reviews of that evidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the scientific evidence on the environmental impacts of managed heather burning on deep peat; and whether it has commissioned any independent reviews of that evidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on land managers of the change in the peat-depth threshold used for regulating heather burning from 40 centimetres to 30 centimetres; and what scientific evidence was used to...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on land managers of the change in the peat-depth threshold used for regulating heather burning from 40 centimetres to 30 centimetres; and what scientific evidence was used to...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, following the redistribution of the responsibilities of the Department for Science and Technology, what steps he is taking to support UK science interests and investment abroad.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, following the redistribution of the responsibilities of the Department for Science and Technology, what steps he is taking to support UK science interests and investment abroad.

I am making this statement on behalf of the Prime Minister to bring to the attention of the House the following changes to the Machinery of Government.

Today, we are fundamentally rewiring the state, changing the geography of government to deliver a stronger, more strategic centre that empowers local leaders, and...

I am making this statement on behalf of the Prime Minister to bring to the attention of the House the following changes to the Machinery of Government.

Today, we are fundamentally rewiring the state, changing the geography of government to deliver a stronger, more strategic centre that empowers local leaders, and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Department is taking to increase knowledge in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum technologies in the diplomatic network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Department is taking to increase knowledge in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum technologies in the diplomatic network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, will she take steps to introduce economic incentives for people to work in the science industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, will she take steps to introduce economic incentives for people to work in the science industry.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to encourage employers to offer structured returnship programmes for women seeking to re-enter science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers after a career break.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to encourage employers to offer structured returnship programmes for women seeking to re-enter science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers after a career break.

Statement on the publication of the third report of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, Science diplomacy: sovereignty, strategy, and the global race (HC 62).

Statement on the publication of the third report of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, Science diplomacy: sovereignty, strategy, and the global race (HC 62).

I am grateful to the Backbench Business Committee for allocating time for this statement from the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on our report, “Science diplomacy: Sovereignty, strategy and the global race”. I am pleased to see members of the Committee in the Chamber. I want to put on record...

I am grateful to the Backbench Business Committee for allocating time for this statement from the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on our report, “Science diplomacy: Sovereignty, strategy and the global race”. I am pleased to see members of the Committee in the Chamber. I want to put on record...

I start by thanking the Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee and its entire membership for the publication of a very interesting and timely report. Business, academia and the whole tech sector needs clarity, in some ways more than anything else. Does the Chair share my concerns, which...

I start by thanking the Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee and its entire membership for the publication of a very interesting and timely report. Business, academia and the whole tech sector needs clarity, in some ways more than anything else. Does the Chair share my concerns, which...

It is one of the thrusts of the report that we need greater clarity on sovereignty. This is not an academic debate—we do not need philosophical discussions on what sovereignty may or may not mean—but as the shadow Minister indicated, on tech stacks, particular technologies and their supply chains, we...

It is one of the thrusts of the report that we need greater clarity on sovereignty. This is not an academic debate—we do not need philosophical discussions on what sovereignty may or may not mean—but as the shadow Minister indicated, on tech stacks, particular technologies and their supply chains, we...

I welcome this very interesting and timely report, and I particularly welcome the recognition that one of the barriers to developing or strengthening our sovereignty is the lack of access to deep capital markets at the later stages of start-ups’ development. Will the Chair tell the House a little bit...

I welcome this very interesting and timely report, and I particularly welcome the recognition that one of the barriers to developing or strengthening our sovereignty is the lack of access to deep capital markets at the later stages of start-ups’ development. Will the Chair tell the House a little bit...

My hon. Friend highlights an important point in the report on investment and access to it, particularly for sovereign capabilities. That may be for what we call deep tech, which is tech that requires a long-term investment and that will not yield a return tomorrow, or even next year. We...

My hon. Friend highlights an important point in the report on investment and access to it, particularly for sovereign capabilities. That may be for what we call deep tech, which is tech that requires a long-term investment and that will not yield a return tomorrow, or even next year. We...

I thank my hon. Friend for the report, and for all the hard work her Committee has put into it. I was very interested in the section about space. Does she share my pleasure in the announcement today that the SaxaVord space station is likely to have a launch of...

I thank my hon. Friend for the report, and for all the hard work her Committee has put into it. I was very interested in the section about space. Does she share my pleasure in the announcement today that the SaxaVord space station is likely to have a launch of...

I think it is brilliant. SaxaVord got some investment from the UK Government.

I think it is brilliant. SaxaVord got some investment from the UK Government.

In addition to acknowledging the investment from the UK Government, may I ask whether my hon. Friend’s Committee agrees with the recommendation of the Scottish Affairs Committee, which I chair, that we should have a Minister for space in Government? That is because we recognise the cross-cutting nature of many...

In addition to acknowledging the investment from the UK Government, may I ask whether my hon. Friend’s Committee agrees with the recommendation of the Scottish Affairs Committee, which I chair, that we should have a Minister for space in Government? That is because we recognise the cross-cutting nature of many...

I thank my hon. Friend and Select Committee Chair for that excellent question, and congratulate Scotland on the proposed launch. The Committee chose space as one of the lenses through which to look at science diplomacy and all the issues associated with it. Though we did not recommend a Minister...

I thank my hon. Friend and Select Committee Chair for that excellent question, and congratulate Scotland on the proposed launch. The Committee chose space as one of the lenses through which to look at science diplomacy and all the issues associated with it. Though we did not recommend a Minister...

I am proud to represent Shoreditch, which has a lot of tech start-ups, so I welcome my hon. Friend’s report. Following on from the question from, and answer to, my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow South (Gordon McKee), will she expand on how we can get that money into...

I am proud to represent Shoreditch, which has a lot of tech start-ups, so I welcome my hon. Friend’s report. Following on from the question from, and answer to, my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow South (Gordon McKee), will she expand on how we can get that money into...

I thank my hon. Friend and Chair of the Treasury Committee for her question. She highlights one of the principal concerns regarding technology-driven growth, which we reported on in our report “Flying blind: innovation, growth and the regions”: the access to capital, particularly for the kind of tech start-ups that...

I thank my hon. Friend and Chair of the Treasury Committee for her question. She highlights one of the principal concerns regarding technology-driven growth, which we reported on in our report “Flying blind: innovation, growth and the regions”: the access to capital, particularly for the kind of tech start-ups that...

I am very happy to complete this hat trick of Scottish colleagues. I thank my hon. Friend for this excellent report, and I agree about the need to focus on science diplomacy, which is an opportunity for the UK; we should be much more ambitious about what we do.

As a...

I am very happy to complete this hat trick of Scottish colleagues. I thank my hon. Friend for this excellent report, and I agree about the need to focus on science diplomacy, which is an opportunity for the UK; we should be much more ambitious about what we do.

As a...

I thank my hon. Friend for that question, because it gives me the opportunity to put on record how much the work of the SINs, which I now think are called the SATs, or something—

I thank my hon. Friend for that question, because it gives me the opportunity to put on record how much the work of the SINs, which I now think are called the SATs, or something—

SAINTs, maybe.

SAINTs, maybe.

Yes, the SINs and the SAINTs. The name may have changed, and there are concerns about the level of support they are receiving from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, but there was unanimous support for the work they did. There are countless examples of that support having enabled tech...

Yes, the SINs and the SAINTs. The name may have changed, and there are concerns about the level of support they are receiving from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, but there was unanimous support for the work they did. There are countless examples of that support having enabled tech...

I think the Secretary of State just said that the eminent professors are wrong.

Aside from research spend, one of the core reasons for the budgetary pressures in physics is the ruinous cost of energy under Labour. It is ideology in research spend, and it is ideology in energy policy. In March, the Secretary of State said we need to sort out the problems facing physics funding as soon as possible; it is now July. Has she lobbied the Energy Secretary to stop him driving up the core costs of our critical scientific research institutions?

I think the Secretary of State just said that the eminent professors are wrong.

Aside from research spend, one of the core reasons for the budgetary pressures in physics is the ruinous cost of energy under Labour. It is ideology in research spend, and it is ideology in energy policy. In March, the Secretary of State said we need to sort out the problems facing physics funding as soon as possible; it is now July. Has she lobbied the Energy Secretary to stop him driving up the core costs of our critical scientific research institutions?

I say gently to the hon. Lady that we are dealing with the mess we inherited from Conservative Members by ensuring that this country can rely on clean, renewable, home-grown energy right here in Britain. That is why we are driving the technological revolution in AI in our AI growth zones in Wales through three small modular nuclear reactors. It is also why this country has had more venture capital funding in our AI start-ups just this year than the whole of the rest of Europe. We are driving forward change to ensure that this country can succeed.

I say gently to the hon. Lady that we are dealing with the mess we inherited from Conservative Members by ensuring that this country can rely on clean, renewable, home-grown energy right here in Britain. That is why we are driving the technological revolution in AI in our AI growth zones in Wales through three small modular nuclear reactors. It is also why this country has had more venture capital funding in our AI start-ups just this year than the whole of the rest of Europe. We are driving forward change to ensure that this country can succeed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK‑Germany Strategic Science and Technology Partnership on Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK‑Germany Strategic Science and Technology Partnership on Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how is the age of an offender determined by the courts; and are any scientific age assessments used.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how is the age of an offender determined by the courts; and are any scientific age assessments used.

We looked at innovation in the ecosystems around Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and we found fantastic examples of world leadership in scientific research and innovation in Scotland. However, we did not find the collection of regional data at a level that would have enabled us to measure effectively what works best....

We looked at innovation in the ecosystems around Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and we found fantastic examples of world leadership in scientific research and innovation in Scotland. However, we did not find the collection of regional data at a level that would have enabled us to measure effectively what works best....

Statement on the publication of the first special report of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, Flying Blind: Innovation, Growth and the Regions: Government Response, (HC 271).

Statement on the publication of the first special report of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, Flying Blind: Innovation, Growth and the Regions: Government Response, (HC 271).

I am grateful to the Backbench Business Committee for allocating time for this statement. On behalf of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, I put on the record our thanks to the Committee Clerks and specialists who supported this inquiry.

We are told on a daily, if not hourly, basis that...

I am grateful to the Backbench Business Committee for allocating time for this statement. On behalf of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, I put on the record our thanks to the Committee Clerks and specialists who supported this inquiry.

We are told on a daily, if not hourly, basis that...

I welcome the report and thank the Chair of the Select Committee for her diligent work on it. In Yorkshire, we receive less funding per head across the board for transport, schools and, importantly, health research. We know that Yorkshire receives a quarter of the funding per head that London...

I welcome the report and thank the Chair of the Select Committee for her diligent work on it. In Yorkshire, we receive less funding per head across the board for transport, schools and, importantly, health research. We know that Yorkshire receives a quarter of the funding per head that London...

First, I thank the hon. Member for his contribution to the Select Committee while he served on it. He is absolutely right to trace the link between research funding and key issues such as health inequalities, from which we also suffer in the north-east of England. He is right to...

First, I thank the hon. Member for his contribution to the Select Committee while he served on it. He is absolutely right to trace the link between research funding and key issues such as health inequalities, from which we also suffer in the north-east of England. He is right to...

I welcome my hon. Friend’s statement, which is very interesting and important. I briefly draw her attention to the agreement between Rugby borough council and Frasers Group, which is setting up its global HQ in my constituency. Under the agreement, Frasers Group is providing £10 million for a much-needed training...

I welcome my hon. Friend’s statement, which is very interesting and important. I briefly draw her attention to the agreement between Rugby borough council and Frasers Group, which is setting up its global HQ in my constituency. Under the agreement, Frasers Group is providing £10 million for a much-needed training...

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I join him in paying tribute to Frasers Group. Innovation and its benefits are for everyone across our country, and that is particularly important in towns that may traditionally not have seen those benefits, or may have done so in centuries past but...

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I join him in paying tribute to Frasers Group. Innovation and its benefits are for everyone across our country, and that is particularly important in towns that may traditionally not have seen those benefits, or may have done so in centuries past but...

First, I thank the Chair and the Select Committee for their report. The hon. Lady has clearly identified the regional shortcomings when it comes to innovation, growth and where we are. In the discussions she would have had with the Northern Ireland Assembly, and perhaps with the Minister as well,...

First, I thank the Chair and the Select Committee for their report. The hon. Lady has clearly identified the regional shortcomings when it comes to innovation, growth and where we are. In the discussions she would have had with the Northern Ireland Assembly, and perhaps with the Minister as well,...

The hon. Member is always a champion of Northern Ireland, and I congratulate him on the examples of innovation and its contribution to economic growth that the Committee found in Northern Ireland. We did not have a specific discussion about that when the Minister for Science came before the Committee,...

The hon. Member is always a champion of Northern Ireland, and I congratulate him on the examples of innovation and its contribution to economic growth that the Committee found in Northern Ireland. We did not have a specific discussion about that when the Minister for Science came before the Committee,...

I thank my constituency neighbour for her statement. Does she agree with me that devolved authorities, such as the North East combined authority, have the local knowledge to inspire, support, drive and encourage innovation and growth in places such as our very own Tyneside?

I thank my constituency neighbour for her statement. Does she agree with me that devolved authorities, such as the North East combined authority, have the local knowledge to inspire, support, drive and encourage innovation and growth in places such as our very own Tyneside?

I am immensely grateful to my hon. Friend and constituency neighbour for her question, and she is absolutely right. As I highlighted in my concluding remarks, we have seen how in Greater Manchester, where the mayor has had over 10 years to make such a difference—we see this in Liverpool...

I am immensely grateful to my hon. Friend and constituency neighbour for her question, and she is absolutely right. As I highlighted in my concluding remarks, we have seen how in Greater Manchester, where the mayor has had over 10 years to make such a difference—we see this in Liverpool...