Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the press notice entitled PM announces turning point in European security as UK set to increase defence spending to 2.5% by 2030, published on 23 April 2024, whether the 5% of the defence budget to be committed to research and development will be counted as science spend; and which Department will be responsible for that expenditure.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is delivering a record £20 billion public investment in R&D this year, which will increase to £22 billion by the end of the next Parliament. £1.6 billion of this £2 billion increase will be allocated to higher defence R&D by 2028-29. The Ministry of Defence will be responsible for this expenditure and further details will be confirmed at the next Spending Review.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department plans to integrate 5G networks with public sector infrastructure; and whether she has had discussions with network providers on the role of public sector infrastructure in improving coverage.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Our 2023 Wireless Infrastructure Strategy sets out a range of measures to drive 5G adoption in the private and public sectors to ensure the UK can fully realise the benefits of 5G. This includes a commitment to drive innovation in public services, and for digital connectivity requirements for future users of infrastructure to be at the heart of planning for major infrastructure projects. This includes our commitment that all new hospitals are built with 5G or the equivalent technology.
My Department has regular engagement with network providers to explore how the public sector can be an early adopter of 5G and deliver our ambitions to improve 5G coverage nationally.
We have taken steps to encourage the use of public sector assets for wireless infrastructure deployment, including through the £7 million Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator programme, which helps local councils and the telecoms industry resolve the challenges involved with using publicly owned land, buildings and street furniture to host digital infrastructure.
DSIT has also awarded six local authority pilots a total of £1.3 million through our Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme, to test “smart” multipurpose columns that provide wireless connectivity services and other uses, such as EV charging.
My Department has also published, via the Digital Connectivity Portal, - extensive guidance for local authorities and operators to help facilitate broadband deployment. This includes technical information, as well as examples of best practice.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to collaborate with the Department for Health and Social Care on pandemic preparedness.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Our new £520m fund will help provide the capabilities and capacities to support domestic UK health resilience and ensure a robust response to potential future health emergencies, such as influenza pandemics. The Office for Life Sciences will publish the fund’s strategic objectives, process, and assessment criteria in due course. We are working closely with DHSC to ensure that the fund will contribute to the Government’s pandemic preparedness priorities.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what funding UK Research and Innovation provides to support research and innovation related to pandemic preparedness.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As the Member should know, DHSC are the lead department for pandemic preparedness, a core element of the UK Biological Security Strategy.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what training her Department offers officials on the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is currently developing guidance to support officials carrying out Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) considerations and is due to be published internally this month. Officials have been able to access their previous Department’s (BEIS & DCMS) guidance on applying PSED since DSIT formed in February 2023.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of engineering biology on reaching net zero.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The National Vision for Engineering Biology, published December 2023, identifies opportunities to apply engineering biology to tackle Net Zero in sectors including low carbon fuels and chemical manufacturing.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether officials in her Department have provided Ministers with written advice on meeting the public sector equality duty in relation to the (a) UK Science and Technology Framework, (b) National AI Strategy and (c) Life Sciences Vision.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The department does not hold an Equality Impact Assessment for the Science and Technology Framework, as it is a high-level strategic Framework through which to deliver Government policy. Individual policies that will be delivered under the Framework have or will develop Equality Impact Assessments for their policies, in line with the Public Sector Equality Duty. As set out in the published Science and Technology Framework, many of the strands have equality considerations at the heart of what they are aiming to achieve.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when the most recent meeting of Life Sciences Council was held; and when the council is scheduled to meet next.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The last meeting of the Life Sciences Council took place on Tuesday 21 November 2023.
The date for the next meeting is currently being agreed with members.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many times a year, on average, she meets representatives of the Life Sciences Council; and when she plans to next meet the council.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Secretary of State, alongside the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care co-chairs the Life Sciences Council twice a year. The most recent meeting took place on 23 November 2023 and the date for the next meeting is currently being agreed with members.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, pursuant to the Answer of 8 May 2024 to Question 24458 on Gaza: Aid Workers, whether it is his policy that there should be an independent inquiry into the killing of the British aid workers by the Israeli Defence Forces.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
As set out in the answer to Question 24458, we are carefully reviewing the initial findings of Israel's investigations into the killing of World Central Kitchen aid workers and welcome the suspension of two officers as a first step. Their inquiry so far has highlighted failures in deconfliction processes and the unacceptable conduct of the IDF personnel involved. This must never happen again.