Asked by: Lord Bradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect the second part of Lord Leveson's Independent Review of the Criminal Courts to be published.
Answered by Baroness Levitt - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Part two of the Independent Review into Criminal Courts is considering how the criminal courts can operate as efficiently as possible, specifically looking at the efficiency and timeliness of processes. We expect to receive Sir Brian's report on court efficiency early next year.
We will consider his recommendations in full and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Lord Bradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the role and remit of the Office for Life Sciences.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Office for Life Sciences (OLS) is a joint unit between the Department of Health and Social Care, Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department of Business and Trade. It exists to support the UK’s life sciences sector by championing research, innovation and technology, helping everyone live well for longer and kickstarting economic growth.
OLS is committed to renewing the UK’s leadership in life sciences – a cornerstone of the UK's success – deepening ties between the public, private and third sector to ensure growth across every region of the country. OLS has responsibility for the oversight of delivery of the Life Science Sector Plan, which was published in July 2025, as part of the Industrial Strategy and developed in tandem with the 10 Year Health Plan.
Asked by: Lord Bradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much money has been distributed through the Life Sciences Innovation Manufacturing Fund grants in each of the last five years and of this amount how much was allocated to (1) small, (2) medium and (3) large businesses.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (2025-30) launched in October 2024 has so far committed a total of £6 million in grant awards, 100% going to small and medium (SME) companies with fewer than 250 employees. Between 2022 and 2024, £69 million in grant funding was awarded through predecessor schemes, of which £3 million (4%) was awarded to SMEs and £66 million (96%) to larger companies. The LSIMF 2025-2030 scheme remains open and its pipeline contains applications from across the sector, and from companies of different sizes.