Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Adam Afriyie and David Gauke

Tuesday 28th February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Adam Afriyie (Windsor) (Con)]

I very much welcome this Government’s healthy commitment to scientific spending over several years, but it seems that our business investment in research is below the OECD average. May I urge the Chancellor to examine measures that will increase private company business expenditure on research?

[Mr Gauke]

As the Chancellor announced at the autumn statement, the Government are significantly increasing investment in research and development, rising to an extra £2 billion a year by 2020-21. We have also made the R and D tax credit regime much more generous. We want to ensure that the UK remains an attractive place for business to invest in innovative research.