Chi Onwurah

India remains the UK’s second largest foreign direct investment (FDI) market of origin, second after only the US. In 2021/22, the Department for International Trade supported 98 FDI investments originating from India, creating almost 8,300 jobs across the UK. In the 3 years to March 2021, on average households in the Indian ethnic group were the most likely to have a weekly income of £2,000 or more.

The Government is committed to making Britain a fairer place for all, and for delivering equality of opportunity for everyone. This includes tackling all types of discrimination, including on grounds of race, wherever it arises.

It is unlawful to discriminate, harass or victimise a person because of their race, ethnicity, nationality or colour. The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) provides legal protection for the protected characteristic of race, which includes colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origins. This means the Act provides protection against unlawful racial or ethnic discrimination in employment and in other areas covered by the Act such as services, transport, education and housing.

A person's voice/accent can sometimes be an indicator of a protected characteristic (in particular race). So although accent is not a protected characteristic, it is possible that discriminating against a person because of their accent will amount to unlawful discrimination under the Act, depending on the circumstances.

Advancing fairness and equality of opportunity in the workplace is a key priority for this Government. Everyone should be treated fairly as an employee or job applicant so that they can thrive and reach their full potential. A diverse workforce is good for business and we recognise that employers stand the best chance of achieving this when they focus their efforts on effective actions which have a proven track record of improving diversity and inclusion.

The Government’s approach is to progress specific policies and practical actions that will deliver real change. Our agenda set out in the White Paper ‘Levelling Up the United Kingdom’ is key to this and we are promoting social mobility and tackling inequality through a range of initiatives – for example in education, through reforms to the welfare system, by giving greater developmental devolution in England and rebalancing the economy through schemes such as the Towns Fund.

We welcome the Sutton Trust’s Speaking Up report and note it recognises that accent is a key facet of several protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 – for example, sex, race, age and sexual orientation ­­– this may offer some protection, depending on the particular circumstances of the case.

We have taken on board the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (CRED) recommendations, and as part of the UK Government’s response ‘Inclusive Britain’, Action 69 is the commitment to establish an Inclusion at Work Panel to examine the evidence to understand what actually works to improve inclusion in the workplace and to share that information with employers so they can take action.

Made up of a panel of academics and practitioners in business it will develop and disseminate effective resources to help employers drive fairness across organisations. This will go beyond just race and ethnicity to identify actions to promote fairness for all in the workplace. It will include a programme of research and workplace trials to provide a robust evidence base and root out poor quality training.

In addition, we have published guidance that sets out the steps that employees can take if they are experiencing bullying or harassment at work, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/workplace-bullying-and-harassment.

Acas provides free and impartial advice for employers and employees, and has also published useful guidance on how to deal with bullying in the workplace that we encourage individuals and employers to consider when dealing with such matters. This is available at: https://www.acas.org.uk/if-youre-treated-unfairly-at-work/being-bullied.

The Minister for Equalities’ role represents all aspects of the women and equalities portfolio in Cabinet. This portfolio has not changed. The Cabinet role will be supported by the Minister for Women and the equalities Lords Minister.

The regular Women and Equalities Questions session in the Commons also retains that name, to reflect its scope including women’s issues. Details of Ministerial priorities will be shared in due course.

I met with the chair of the Climate Change Committee following the publication of the report.

The Cabinet’s Climate Action Implementation Committee, which I chair, has also had an initial discussion on the findings of the report.

The Government will set out a formal response later this year.

In its recently published Strategic Plan 2022 to 2025, the Equality and Human Rights Commission singled out digital services and artificial intelligence as one of its strategic priorities. The Commission intends to intervene where necessary to ensure that people are protected from discrimination online, just as they must be in more traditional settings.

We must draw on all our available talent and inspire more young people, including those currently under-represented in the STEM workforce, to take up STEM subjects and careers. Our focus on STEM diversity is primarily because of its importance to the UK's continued growth and its impact on wider society. STEM sector jobs are, on average, higher paid than those in the retail and care sectors, so supporting under-represented people into STEM helps their income, and supports our levelling up agenda.

The Equality Hub’s focus is on data and evidence, and a commitment to sharing that across Government so that we can all develop practical interventions that we know will have an impact. Officials work closely with other relevant departments, as well as academics and other organisations working in the sector to improve the shared evidence base.

The Social Mobility Commission (SMC), an independent body sponsored by the Equality Hub in the Cabinet Office, looks at social mobility from a UK perspective. The Social Mobility Commission's new Index does not focus on any one sector or industry, but looks at occupational classes more broadly, using the NS-SEC classifications from the ONS Labour Force Survey.

We take this issue very seriously. On Monday my Rt Hon. friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced a review into possible inadvertent bias in medical devices. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has also set tackling the challenges faced by AI as one of the priority work areas in its draft strategic plan for the next three years. It is engaging with key stakeholders in AI, like the Ada Lovelace Institute and the Alan Turing Institute and is developing guidance on AI and the Public Sector Equality Duty, for government departments and public bodies, which will be published early in the new year.

The Government is carefully considering the findings of the independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities report and will publish its response in due course.

In line with the Commission’s findings, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published a consultation in September 2021 examining the role of sensitive personal data in bias detection and mitigation in AI systems, and the use of the term ‘fairness’ in a data protection context. The consultation is now closed and DCMS is analysing the responses.

The National AI Strategy published in September 2021 also sets out further government action to address concerns around fairness and algorithmic bias. The strategy can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-ai-strategy/national-ai-strategy-html-version.

The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) prohibits employers and service providers from discriminating against employees, job applicants and customers because of or in relation to a protected characteristic. This includes discrimination through actions taken as a result of deploying an algorithm or a similar artificial intelligence mechanism. The key test is how the employer or service provider acts and whether this is lawful under the Act, not the tools used in the decision-making process.

It is for the courts to interpret and apply the law, including where new and evolving technology is at play. To date, it has not been necessary to consider amendments to the Equality Act 2010 in this context and the Government has no plans to bring forward such legislation. However, we will continue to monitor developments.

On 10 September 2021 the government launched a public consultation, Data: A new direction. The consultation proposes reforms to enable organisations to use personal data and sensitive personal data for the purpose of managing the risk of bias in their AI systems. The consultation will close on 19 November 2021.

In addition, the Equality and Human Rights Commission is developing guidance for the public sector on algorithmic decision-making.

The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) prohibits employers and service providers from discriminating against employees, job applicants and customers because of or in relation to a protected characteristic. This includes discrimination through actions taken as a result of deploying an algorithm or a similar artificial intelligence mechanism. The key test is how the employer or service provider acts and whether this is lawful under the Act, not the tools used in the decision-making process.

It is for the courts to interpret and apply the law, including where new and evolving technology is at play. To date, it has not been necessary to consider amendments to the Equality Act 2010 in this context and the Government has no plans to bring forward such legislation. However, we will continue to monitor developments.

On 10 September 2021 the government launched a public consultation, Data: A new direction. The consultation proposes reforms to enable organisations to use personal data and sensitive personal data for the purpose of managing the risk of bias in their AI systems. The consultation will close on 19 November 2021.

In addition, the Equality and Human Rights Commission is developing guidance for the public sector on algorithmic decision-making.

The independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities published its findings on 31 March 2021. The report took an evidence-led approach drawing on academic research, expert views and over 2,300 submissions to the call for evidence. The Employment and Enterprise chapter of the report summarises the Commission’s research about Artificial Intelligence systems and bias in technology.

The Commission recommended that the government issue guidance that clarifies how to apply the Equality Act to algorithmic decision-making and require transparency for public sector bodies when this is applied to decisions concerning individuals. The government is still carefully considering the report’s findings and recommendations and will respond in full this summer.

The independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities published its findings on 31 March 2021. The report took an evidence-led approach drawing on academic research, expert views and over 2,300 submissions to the call for evidence. The Employment and Enterprise chapter of the report summarises the Commission’s research about Artificial Intelligence systems and bias in technology.

The Commission recommended that the government issue guidance that clarifies how to apply the Equality Act to algorithmic decision-making and require transparency for public sector bodies when this is applied to decisions concerning individuals. The government is still carefully considering the report’s findings and recommendations and will respond in full this summer.

The independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities published its findings on 31 March 2021. The report took an evidence-led approach drawing on academic research, expert views and over 2,300 submissions to the call for evidence. The Employment and Enterprise chapter of the report summarises the Commission’s research about Artificial Intelligence systems and bias in technology.

The Commission recommended that the government issue guidance that clarifies how to apply the Equality Act to algorithmic decision-making and require transparency for public sector bodies when this is applied to decisions concerning individuals. The government is still carefully considering the report’s findings and recommendations and will respond in full this summer.

The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities published its findings on 31 March 2021 and its report is available on GOV.UK. The Employment and Enterprise chapter of the report includes the Commission’s research about Artificial Intelligence systems and bias in technology.

The Commission has recommended that Government issue guidance that clarifies how to apply the Equality Act to algorithmic decision-making and require transparency for public sector bodies when such is applied to decision making concerning individuals. The Government is now considering the Commission’s recommendations in detail and will respond in full this summer.

There is not a contractual requirement for IT cloud infrastructure providers to report on R&D investment. This is mainly due to cloud providers operating outside of the classical, managed outsourcing model. The cloud providers do, however, publish information on their investment activities in the UK.

On 3 November, the Government announced the creation of the National Science and Technology Council as a Cabinet committee, chaired by the Prime Minister, to consider matters relating to strategic advantage through science and technology. The membership and terms of reference of the committee can be found on gov.uk.

Lord Johnson, Minister of State for the Department for International Trade, has responsibility for the Office for Investment.

In October 2022, the National Science and Technology Council was established as an inter-ministerial group responsible for delivering an ambitious UK science and technology strategy and to consider key science and technology issues.

The Cabinet Committee list and membership is decided by the Prime Minister.

GOV.UK is updated regularly with the list of Cabinet Committees, their terms of reference, and membership.

The National Science and Technology Council was a Cabinet Committee which was established in October 2021 to consider matters relating to strategic advantage through science and technology.

The National Science and Technology Council, established in October 2022, is an Interministerial Group responsible for delivering an ambitious UK science and technology strategy.

The council will allow Ministers to coordinate efforts across government to create the very best conditions for science and technology in the UK as a crucial driver of economic growth, prosperity and security.

The National Science and Technology Council was a Cabinet Committee which was established in October 2021 to consider matters relating to strategic advantage through science and technology.

The National Science and Technology Council, established in October 2022, is an Interministerial Group responsible for delivering an ambitious UK science and technology strategy.

The council will allow Ministers to coordinate efforts across government to create the very best conditions for science and technology in the UK as a crucial driver of economic growth, prosperity and security.

A competition to recruit a new Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) is currently underway. A breadth of skills and experience are essential for the role; not only should the postholder possess a first-class reputation in the scientific field, they should also have excellent policy and analytical skills at the strategic level, and the ability to assimilate, evaluate and interpret scientific findings. In addition, they will need to command the confidence and respect of ministers, senior officials and their peers in the scientific community. They will also need to be an excellent communicator who is able to communicate with a broad range of audiences.

A new National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) has been established with responsibility for delivering an ambitious UK science and technology strategy. The committee will allow Ministers to coordinate efforts across government to create the very best conditions for science and technology in the UK as a crucial driver of economic growth, prosperity and security.

The Cabinet Office attaches great importance to the effective and timely handling of correspondence from MPs and Peers. On 26 May 2022, we published data on the timeliness of government responses to correspondence from MPs and Peers for 2021 on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/data-on-responses-to-correspondence-from-mps-and-peers-2021. Cabinet Office timeliness improved each quarter of 2021, with 89% of correspondence received from hon. Members in quarter four responded to within 20 working days.

As per the Guide to Handling Correspondence, updated by the Cabinet Office in July 2021, the target response time set by Departments for correspondence must not exceed 20 working days. The Cabinet Office continues to keep its own processes under review to further improve the time taken to respond.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Official Report, 6 July 2022, col. 11MC.

The source was the Dealroom Tech Health Check which is available at https://dealroom.co/blog/uk-tech-health-check-london-tech-week-2022.

This Government has been creating the right tax environment to promote investment and innovation. That is why we introduced the 130% super-deduction for capital investment and increased the Annual Investment Allowance from £200,000 to £1 million. We also have specific tax reliefs aimed at encouraging Venture Capital and early-stage investment, such as the Enterprise Investment Scheme and the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Official Report, 6 July 2022, col. 11MC.

The source was the Dealroom Tech Health Check which is available at https://dealroom.co/blog/uk-tech-health-check-london-tech-week-2022.

This Government has been creating the right tax environment to promote investment and innovation. That is why we introduced the 130% super-deduction for capital investment and increased the Annual Investment Allowance from £200,000 to £1 million. We also have specific tax reliefs aimed at encouraging Venture Capital and early-stage investment, such as the Enterprise Investment Scheme and the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme.

The Prime Minister has told Secretaries of State and Permanent Secretaries to work together on producing a plan for returning the Civil Service workforce numbers to 2016 levels over the next three years. This work will be overseen by the Efficiency and Value for Money Cabinet Committee.

Places for Growth is contributing towards the Declaration on Government Reform and the Levelling Up priority by increasing the geographic spread of Civil Servants across the UK, increasing opportunities for people from a wider range of places, including establishing the Darlington Economic Campus where more than 110 HM Treasury staff are now in post. As the Levelling Up White Paper set out, departments have committed to moving more than 15,000 Civil Service roles out of Greater London by 2025, and 22,000 by 2030.

Secretaries of State will lead the drive for reductions within their departments and the Civil Service organisations for which they have responsibility. Planning is underway, with departments considering opportunities and the potential impacts that need to be mitigated. As plans are still in development, no decisions have yet been made.

It is the responsibility of every government department, including the Cabinet Office, to make a risk-based assessment of their use of cloud providers for the storage of government data up to “OFFICIAL” level, including UK citizens’ data. When considering a commercial provider, departments should take into account the cloud security principles developed by the National Cyber Security Centre (https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/implementing-cloud-security-principles).

The Cabinet Office carries out this risk assessment for each service it delivers to ensure that appropriate controls are in place to protect citizen data.

Departments are required to follow the Technology Code of Practice when choosing a cloud provider, and this is assessed as part of the spend controls function. Departments must show that they have chosen the technology which provides the best value for money while meeting user needs. The Central Digital & Data Office carries out ongoing engagement with departments to review their decision-making about hosting. This includes qualitative analysis through user research as well as spend controls.

The Government wants suppliers of all sizes, including SMEs, to be able to compete for and win government business and we have reduced many of the barriers and bureaucracy in public sector procurement.

We have made no assessment of Bloom Services. However, suppliers are free to use whichever service is most appropriate for them in order to access public contracts.

Contracts Finder covers current and future public sector contracts above £10,000 in central government and £25,000 in the wider public sector. It also includes information on contracts awarded, and whether the contract has been won by small or medium sized businesses or voluntary bodies. It is free to use, and accessible from smartphones and tablets. It is the responsibility of all departments to publish accurate contract notices and award notices on Contracts Finder.

Individual departments are responsible for their own commercial decisions, including the award of contracts.

In 2020, we launched a new model to deliver social value through Government's commercial activities. Central government organisations should use this model to take account of the additional social benefits that can be achieved in the delivery of its contracts, using policy outcomes aligned with this Government’s priorities.

Each Buying Authority has their own commercial spend controls that apply to their contracts with suppliers. Value-for-money and cost implications will vary on a case-by-case basis and it is down to each department to determine what these are in their respective circumstances. The Technology Code of Practice ensures that departments have multiple options available with a range of suppliers.

The driving principle behind public procurement policy is to award contracts on the basis of value for money. That means the optimum combination of cost and quality over the lifetime of the project, not just price alone. The best way to test for and to demonstrate this principle is via an open competition, as is required in most cases by public procurement legislation.

The government wants UK businesses to be successful in bidding for UK public contracts. That is why this government is committed to the procurement reform bill which will provide simpler, less bureaucratic processes for our businesses and better commercial outcomes for our public bodies - all while continuing to comply with our international commitments.

Through our new approach to extend the use of the Social Value Act, effective from 1 January 2021, additional social benefits can be taken into account in the delivery of contracts in a streamlined and standardised way, using policy outcomes aligned to this government’s priorities. From creating jobs and skills, building diverse supply chains and working towards Net Zero, embedding social value in procurement can help us to invest in our communities.

In addition to training commercial staff and making detailed guidance available to all on gov.uk, Cabinet Office and DCMS are working with supplier representative bodies and other external stakeholders to continue to build awareness.

There are a range of suppliers that compete to offer services via a number of framework agreements through the Crown Commercial Service, such as G-Cloud and Cloud Compute. Pricing and commercial offers in this industry are very competitive between suppliers.

Government does not place a cap on the proportion of cloud services provided by any of the current suppliers. Government Departments conduct their own assessments around value for money and implement their outsourcing strategies accordingly to meet their needs.

It is government policy not to comment on or discuss details of national security contracts.

Details of Government contracts above £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.

Publicly available spend data provided by the Crown Commercial Service reports that spend associated with these contracts totals at £371m through G-Cloud Framework Agreements since its 7th iteration up until the present time.

Details of Government contracts above £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.

Publicly available spend data provided by the Crown Commercial Service reports that spend associated with these contracts totals at £371m through G-Cloud Framework Agreements since its 7th iteration up until the present time.

These are commercial matters for the parties concerned. The Government was not involved at any point in the takeover talks on the sale of Newcastle United.

The role of the Electoral Commission is to ensure that elections and referendums are run effectively and in accordance with the law, to register political parties, and to regulate donations and loans to political parties and other campaigners and their spending. The Commission has recently launched a public awareness campaign about online political advertising.

The Government is committed to introducing a digital imprints regime. It will inform voters about the source of digital campaign material. The Electoral Commission will play a central role in ensuring compliance with the regime. This will be a big step forward in making UK politics more transparent and will empower voters to make informed decisions.

Tackling disinformation in all its forms remains a key priority for the Government. As set out in the Full Government Response, the Online Safety Bill will introduce a duty of care requiring companies to address harms on their online platforms, such as misinformation and disinformation. The new laws will have robust and proportionate measures to deal with misinformation and disinformation that could cause significant physical or psychological harm to an individual. Ofcom will be the independent online harms regulator and the Bill will give Ofcom the tools it needs to understand how effectively disinformation is being addressed so that it can take action as required.

This £10million fund will help deliver charitable projects and initiatives across the UK that support veterans with mental health needs. The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, in addition to disbursing their regular funding of £10million per annum, will design and run an open grant competition to award the additional funding to organisations delivering in-scope programmes in support of veterans' mental health.

The £475,000 is new funding representing an opportunity to improve the ability of charities to work together and with government, enhancing the provision of support for veterans and the broader Armed Forces Community. Therefore the additional funds have been allocated to the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, within the Cabinet Office.

The Government committed funding at last year’s Spending Review to develop the first stage of an ambitious cross-government single sign-on and digital identity solution. Our vision is for members of the public to be able to access any online central government service simply, safely and securely using a single sign-on.

The Government is committed to working with its suppliers to tackle modern slavery in supply chains, as part of wider government action to tackle business compliance with the Modern Slavery Act.

The Modern Slavery Assessment Tool (MSAT) helps public sector organisations work in partnership with suppliers to improve the policies, processes and systems they have in place to identify and tackle the risk of modern slavery in supply chains. The MSAT records a broad range of information including risk assessments, due diligence and any training the supplier has undertaken to mitigate modern slavery risks. The government continues to work with its Strategic Suppliers in areas the MSAT has identified can be improved.

AWS’s publicly available ‘Amazon Supply Chain Standards’ policy sets out commitment to both labour and human rights.

The Government is committed to working with its suppliers to tackle modern slavery in supply chains, as part of wider government action to tackle business compliance with the Modern Slavery Act.

The Modern Slavery Assessment Tool (MSAT) helps public sector organisations work in partnership with suppliers to improve the policies, processes and systems they have in place to identify and tackle the risk of modern slavery in supply chains. The MSAT records a broad range of information including risk assessments, due diligence and any training the supplier has undertaken to mitigate modern slavery risks. The government continues to work with its Strategic Suppliers in areas the MSAT has identified can be improved.

AWS’s publicly available ‘Amazon Supply Chain Standards’ policy sets out commitment to both labour and human rights.

The Government is committed to working with its suppliers to tackle modern slavery in supply chains, as part of wider government action to tackle business compliance with the Modern Slavery Act.

The Modern Slavery Assessment Tool (MSAT) helps public sector organisations work in partnership with suppliers to improve the policies, processes and systems they have in place to identify and tackle the risk of modern slavery in supply chains. The MSAT records a broad range of information including risk assessments, due diligence and any training the supplier has undertaken to mitigate modern slavery risks. The government continues to work with its Strategic Suppliers in areas the MSAT has identified can be improved.

AWS’s publicly available ‘Amazon Supply Chain Standards’ policy sets out commitment to both labour and human rights.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a strategic supplier to the Government. As a strategic supplier, AWS is asked to complete the Modern Slavery Assessment Tool annually.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.

Tom Read was appointed as CEO of Government Digital Service following an external recruitment overseen by the Civil Service Commission. The selection panel included the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer, the Director General for Digital and Media Policy, Jacqueline De Rojas, and a Civil Service Commissioner.

Joanna Davinson was transferred within the Civil Service, and Paul Willmott was a direct appointment to an advisory role.

I refer the hon. Member to the list of Ministerial Responsibilities published here.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The Cabinet Office seeks to ensure that government organisations choose the right technology to meet their diverse hosting and cloud technology needs. Departments are required to follow the Technology Code of Practice when choosing a cloud provider. Public sector organisations can use the Digital Marketplace frameworks to purchase cloud services, hosting technology and support from a wide range of suppliers including many small and medium enterprises.

Data on government spending with suppliers is available on the Crown Commercial Service website. Departments also publish spend data on GOV.UK and are responsible for their own hosting decisions.

As part of the One Government Cloud Strategy, the government has already agreed a number of Memorandums of Understanding with suppliers including UKCloud, Microsoft, IBM, Google and AWS.

The Government is assessing the need for any actions arising from the Schrems II decision. Further announcements will be made in the usual way.

Data on government spending with suppliers is available on the Crown Commercial Service website. Departments also publish spend data on GOV.UK and are responsible for their own hosting decisions.

As part of the One Government Cloud Strategy, the government has already agreed a number of Memorandums of Understanding with suppliers including UKCloud, Microsoft, IBM, Google and AWS.

The Government is assessing the need for any actions arising from the Schrems II decision. Further announcements will be made in the usual way.

Data on government spending with suppliers is available on the Crown Commercial Service website. Departments also publish spend data on GOV.UK and are responsible for their own hosting decisions.

As part of the One Government Cloud Strategy, the government has already agreed a number of Memorandums of Understanding with suppliers including UKCloud, Microsoft, IBM, Google and AWS.

The Government is assessing the need for any actions arising from the Schrems II decision. Further announcements will be made in the usual way.

The Cabinet Office reviews the diversity of supply of government hosting and cloud services.

Departments are required to follow the Technology Code of Practice when choosing a cloud provider. Departments must show that they have chosen the technology which provides the best value for money while meeting user needs.

Details of spend with cloud hosting providers is available on the G-Cloud dashboard.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to PQ96061.

The Government published the updated Border Operating Model on 8 October. The document outlines the processes and systems required to move goods between GB and the EU from 1 January onwards, as well as the changes due in April and July of 2021 respectively.

As has been the case under successive administrations, the Civil Service Code and the Civil Service Management Code sets out relevant conduct standards.

The Counter Disinformation Unit was established on 5 March 2020, bringing together cross-Government monitoring and analysis capabilities. Its primary function is to provide a comprehensive picture of the extent, scope and the reach of disinformation and misinformation on Covid-19, and to work with partners to ensure appropriate action is taken.

Government has been identifying and resolving up to 70 incidents a week, often false narratives containing multiple misleading claims coordinating with departments across Whitehall to deploy an appropriate response. This can include a direct rebuttal on social media, working with platforms to remove harmful content, and ensuring public health campaigns are promoted through reliable sources. A range of criteria from engagement rates to speed of response is used to evaluate the effectiveness of the actions taken.

In August 2020 the Cabinet Office launched a recruitment campaign for a Government Chief Digital Officer, whose role will be to ensure we can realise the government’s ambition to make UK Government digital services the best in the world. Throughout this time the Government Digital Data and Technology function and Government Digital Service have continued to deliver critical services and expert advice.

The Government’s Data Ethics Framework and ‘Guide to Using AI in the Public Sector’, alongside other guidance are available on GOV.UK, to support ethical and safe use of algorithms in the public sector. Building on existing work on algorithmic and data ethics, the Government is now seeking to deliver more transparency on the use of algorithmic-assisted decision making within the public sector; and is working with leading organisations in the field of data and AI ethics on a proposed approach to algorithmic transparency.

The Government’s Data Ethics Framework and ‘Guide to Using AI in the Public Sector’, alongside other guidance are available on GOV.UK, to support ethical and safe use of algorithms in the public sector. Building on existing work on algorithmic and data ethics, the Government is now seeking to deliver more transparency on the use of algorithmic-assisted decision making within the public sector; and is working with leading organisations in the field of data and AI ethics on a proposed approach to algorithmic transparency.

Government Digital Service (GDS) leads the Government’s Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) function. The GDS Academy provides training.

Regarding cyber skills, I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQs 53531 and 52225 on 09 June 2020. Details of funding are published in the Cabinet Office annual reports.

As the Government has previously stated, it is difficult for a single model or scenario to capture the varying impacts that will be felt across different parts of the economy. We want to stimulate and capture the widest possible range of analysis from economists and academics to businesses and civil society groups. As such, the Government intends to invite contributions in due course about the economic implications of the future relationship.

I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQ 59762 on 23 June 2020.

The economic impacts of our trade deal with the EU are already the subject of a thriving public debate.

A Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS271) made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 8 June updated on the progress of negotiations.

We will continue to keep Parliament informed with appropriate analysis at appropriate times.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 33512 on 21 April 2020.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.

National and local governments are using messaging to mobile phones as part of its COVID-19 communications campaign to ensure people across the UK continue to adhere to the guidance to 'stay at home, protect the NHS, and save lives.' This has included the Government sending a message to all mobile phone users to highlight the new rules in force. Local health providers, such as GP surgeries, are also using mobile messaging to advise people of revised ways to access health care services.

This Government has invested £1.68m in communications initiatives to counter disinformation since March 2018. These initiatives include the RESIST toolkit which helps public organisations respond to disinformation campaigns, and the 'Don’t Feed the Beast' behaviour change campaign to educate and empower those who see, inadvertently share and are affected by false and misleading information.

The Government regularly monitors the performance and financial health of all our strategic suppliers, including those in the IT sector which include DXC Technology.

We remain in regular discussions with DXC’s leadership team on the execution of their new strategy and continue to monitor their performance on Government contracts.

DXC appointed a new CEO in September 2019 who has launched a new strategy.

Quantum computing; 5G technologies and artificial intelligence are all areas which offer significant economic opportunities to the UK, as well as risks to our national cyber security that need to be managed.

Our development of Quantum Computing is funded by combined public and private investment through the UK’s ten year National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP).

Our current National Cyber Security Strategy (2016-2021) is delivering transformational change, building new capabilities and intervening to address the cyber threat. It is supported by £1.9bn investment designed to transform our resilience and continue to build our position as an innovative and expert world leader in cyber security.

The government's Sector Deal for AI launched in April 2018 and outlined a package of support for the sector.

This Government is committed to being open in their dealings with the press and to the principles of media freedom.

Ministers from across Government have appeared on and been interviewed by a wide range of media on a daily basis and have spent time speaking directly to the British public in other ways.

This Government is committed to being open in their dealings with the press and to the principles of media freedom.

Ministers from across Government have appeared on and been interviewed by a wide range of media on a daily basis and have spent time speaking directly to the British public in other ways.

There are no changes to the commercial agreements of levels of service with UK Government digital identity providers as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

The Government’s response to the digital identity consultation (Call for Evidence) will be published in due course.

Verify is delivered with private sector providers and next steps will be announced in the usual manner.

An extensive response to the PAC report was published in October 2019 and can be found at CP 176 – Treasury Minutes Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts.

There are no changes to the commercial agreements of levels of service with UK Government digital identity providers as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

The Government’s response to the digital identity consultation (Call for Evidence) will be published in due course.

Verify is delivered with private sector providers and next steps will be announced in the usual manner.

An extensive response to the PAC report was published in October 2019 and can be found at CP 176 – Treasury Minutes Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts.

There are no changes to the commercial agreements of levels of service with UK Government digital identity providers as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

The Government’s response to the digital identity consultation (Call for Evidence) will be published in due course.

Verify is delivered with private sector providers and next steps will be announced in the usual manner.

An extensive response to the PAC report was published in October 2019 and can be found at CP 176 – Treasury Minutes Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts.

There are no changes to the commercial agreements of levels of service with UK Government digital identity providers as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

The Government’s response to the digital identity consultation (Call for Evidence) will be published in due course.

Verify is delivered with private sector providers and next steps will be announced in the usual manner.

An extensive response to the PAC report was published in October 2019 and can be found at CP 176 – Treasury Minutes Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts.

Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published quarterly on GOV.UK.

There are no changes to the commercial agreements of levels of service with UK Government digital identity providers as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

The Government’s response to the digital identity consultation (Call for Evidence) will be published in due course.

Verify is delivered with private sector providers and next steps will be announced in the usual manner.

An extensive response to the PAC report was published in October 2019 and can be found at CP 176 – Treasury Minutes Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts.

I refer the Hon. member to the answer which I gave to PQ 1802 on 29 January 2020.

There are no local elections scheduled to take place in Northern Ireland in 2020.

The Scottish Parliament is responsible for the franchise for local elections in Scotland and elections to the Scottish Parliament.

The UK Stewardship Code sets high standards for stewardship practice and disclosure. Signatories must explain their approaches to investment, including with regard to systemic risks such as climate change, and report annually on the outcome of their stewardship activities. It is for individual companies to decide which initiatives or commitments they pledge to fulfil. The Code does not require signatories to be committed to specific initiatives or targets. The Government welcomes the continued growth of the UN-convened Net Zero Asset Managers Alliance, which now has 301 signatories representing $59 trillion assets under management.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) sets the UK Stewardship Code and revised it in 2020 to promote better reporting on stewardship outcomes. Research in 2022 found strong evidence of positive changes in stewardship practice under the revised Code. Signatories to the Code have to submit a new report each year to maintain their signatory status.

The FRC’s terms and conditions for the Stewardship Code outline the circumstances in which the FRC may remove an organisation from the list of signatories, including provision of information which is later discovered to be false or inaccurate, or investigation by a regulatory body.

From this autumn, the FRC plans to work with the Financial Conduct Authority, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Pensions Regulator to review the regulatory framework for stewardship, including the operation of the Stewardship Code. The review will assess how far the Code is creating a market for effective stewardship and the need for any further regulation in this area.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) sets the UK Stewardship Code and revised it in 2020 to promote better reporting on stewardship outcomes. Research in 2022 found strong evidence of positive changes in stewardship practice under the revised Code. Signatories to the Code have to submit a new report each year to maintain their signatory status.

The FRC’s terms and conditions for the Stewardship Code outline the circumstances in which the FRC may remove an organisation from the list of signatories, including provision of information which is later discovered to be false or inaccurate, or investigation by a regulatory body.

From this autumn, the FRC plans to work with the Financial Conduct Authority, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Pensions Regulator to review the regulatory framework for stewardship, including the operation of the Stewardship Code. The review will assess how far the Code is creating a market for effective stewardship and the need for any further regulation in this area.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) sets the UK Stewardship Code and has an independent and robust process to ensure that each applicant seeking to or remain a Code signatory has sufficiently demonstrated how they have applied the Principles of the Code. As part of this, signatories must report annually on how they have followed the Code and these reports are reviewed by the FRC.

The FRC does not comment on individual applicants or signatories to the Stewardship Code.

The Government has not set a date for publication of draft legislation relating to the establishment of the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority. The Government is committed to legislating when Parliamentary time allows.

As part of the Critical Minerals Strategy, we are committed to exploring the UK’s geological potential for critical minerals (including lithium) as reflected by the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre’s (CMIC) report published on 17 April, “Potential for Critical Raw Material Prospectivity in the UK.” It is a preliminary assessment, and the Government is working with the British Geological Survey to understand next steps.

In the case of minerals for electrical vehicle batteries, end-of-life recycling is expected to provide less than 1% of UK demand in 2030. However, by 2040, recycling is expected to account for 10-20% of battery mineral demand for electrical vehicles.

To promote recycling and recovery, the Government is funding the £30 million National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) Programme, and UKRI has launched the Circular Critical Materials Supply Chains (CLIMATES) fund, with an initial £15 million to bolster UK rare earth element supply chain resilience.

Responsibility for the business and trade aspects of maritime and shipbuilding is held by the Minister for Industry and Economic Security in the Department for Business and Trade, as set out on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-for-industry-and-economic-security

As automotive manufacturing is vital in delivering the Government’s agendas including levelling up in regions such as the North East, we are determined to ensure the UK remains one of the best locations in the world for the sector.

The Government continues to work both internationally and domestically to understand and minimise the impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act on British business. Building on existing interventions we will take decisive action in the coming months to ensure future investment in zero emission vehicle manufacturing.

In April 2023 the Government published guidance to employers on voluntary ethnicity pay reporting.

As the guidance explains, ethnicity pay reporting is a complex measure and can be affected by many factors meaning it is easy for the data to be misinterpreted or misunderstood. One reason for this is that, while gender pay analysis involves a comparison between two groups, ethnicity pay analysis can potentially involve many more ethnic groups. Additionally, employers may also have to decide how to best combine different ethnic groups to ensure both reliable results and protect confidentiality.

The Cosmetic Regulations state that a cosmetic product can not imply that the product has a characteristic or function which it does not have. Additionally, it requires products to include a full list of ingredients on the product’s label. Lye is the common name for sodium hydroxide. To be compliant with the regulations a product that contains lye as an ingredient must include this information on the label.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards, in its role as the regulator for cosmetic products, will take appropriate action to ensure the safety of consumers should non-compliance with the Cosmetic Regulations be identified.

An assessment of the impact of hair relaxers containing lye on the health of, or associated health outcomes experienced by, black women has not been undertaken by the Department.

Lye is already a restricted substance under annex III of the Cosmetics Regulations 2009. There are specific rules in place both for general and professional use of cosmetic products containing this ingredient.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards, in its role as the regulator for cosmetic products, often commissions scientific assessment of the safety of chemicals. If new evidence becomes available, the Government will take the appropriate action to ensure the safety of consumers.

The Department for Business & Trade take a number of factors into account when identifying attendees for trade delegations. These are predominantly commercial considerations – which UK businesses or stakeholders will most benefit from involvement or can most effectively support the UK’s objectives. Knowledge and experience of a specific market would be one consideration, but we do not collect data on the diaspora of attendees.

British Patient Capital (BPC) was created in 2018 following the Patient Capital Review, and allocated £2.5 billion to invest over the ten years to 2028/29. In July 2021, it was allocated a further £375m to deliver the Future Fund: Breakthrough programme and £200m to deliver the Life Sciences Investment Programme (LSIP). As at 31 March 2022, total value of all commitments and co-investments reached £1.6bn across 61 fund commitments, four co-investments from BPC’s Core programme, and five Future Fund: Breakthrough deals. At Spring Budget 2023, BPC’s mandate was extended until 2033/34.

There are regular discussions between relevant ministers, officials and British Patient Capital (BPC) on supporting research and development (R&D)-intensive companies, including those in the five technologies identified in the Science and Technology Framework. BPC’s Core programme disproportionately supports R&D-intensive companies. 11% of firms receiving BPC-backed investment are academic spinouts, compared to 2% of all equity-backed companies. 92% of companies surveyed for an external evaluation of BPC used the investment they received to fund R&D activities. BPC’s Future Fund: Breakthrough programme has directly invested £101m into fifteen companies. At Spring Budget 2023, it was announced that BPC would increase its focus on R&D-intensive industries.

The Government has invested in the creation of 38 Growth Hubs across England, providing small manufacturing businesses with free one-to-one support and advice. The Recovery Loan Scheme helps smaller businesses access loans and other kinds of finance up to £2 million per business group, including growth, investment or working capital.

The Government has made a £1.6bn commitment through the British Business Bank in regions across the UK. In addition, the Government also committed over £150 million for Made Smarter, the UK national industrial digitalisation programme to help UK manufacturers to capitalise on new digital technologies, reduce carbon emissions and drive-up productivity.

Association to Euratom R&T would need to provide value to the UK’s fusion sector, nuclear researchers and taxpayers. As such it must reflect the lasting impact of two years of delay when UK researchers and businesses were not able to engage in the Euratom R&T Programme or compete for contracts at ITER.

We have been working with the UK Atomic Energy Authority to design an ambitious expansion of activity to secure delivery of the UK’s Fusion Strategy, including support for public and private sector projects. If we cannot agree terms for association these new measures will be implemented.

Association to Euratom R&T would need to provide value to the UK’s fusion sector, nuclear researchers and taxpayers. As such it must reflect the lasting impact of two years of delay when UK researchers and businesses were not able to engage in the Euratom R&T Programme or compete for contracts at ITER.

We have been working with the UK Atomic Energy Authority to design an ambitious expansion of activity to secure delivery of the UK’s Fusion Strategy, including support for public and private sector projects. If we cannot agree terms for association these new measures will be implemented.

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State met representatives from Thames Water Ventures on the 19^th of April 2023 to discuss their plans for floating solar across their estate of reservoirs and the merits of floating solar deployment across the UK.

The Department is not currently supporting research into floating solar panels.

The UK has seen nearly £200 billion of investment into low carbon sectors since 2010, 50% higher than the US as a share of GDP. We’re cementing our leadership in clean technologies through targeted investment, regulation, policy and market frameworks.

The funding announced in the budget is targeted towards supporting early deployment of Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage. Although some of this may be classified as research and development funding, the Government is not earmarking funding for this purpose.

In 2020 the Government established a £385m Advanced Nuclear Fund (ANF) to support the development of Small and Advanced Modular Reactors (SMRs and AMRs).

The ANF includes support for an AMR Research, Development & Demonstration (RD&D) programme which seeks to demonstrate an AMR by the early 2030s to understand the potential of advanced reactors.

The Government decided to focus the AMR RD&D programme on demonstrating High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (HTGRs). The Government supports the development of all types of advanced nuclear technologies including molten salt reactors as part of wider policy activities, such as access to regulation.

The Government is pursuing large-scale nuclear whilst also investing in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs).

In addition to supporting the construction of Hinkley Point C, the Government has invested £700m into the Sizewell C project – the first state backing for a nuclear project in over 30 years.

The up to £385m Advanced Nuclear Fund is funding SMRs and AMRs. Up to £210m of this is helping to develop the Rolls Royce Small Modular Reactor design. The Fund is also supporting an AMR Research Development & Demonstration competition.

Smart meters are modernising the energy system and benefit households and small business across Great Britain. Energy suppliers are responsible for the provision of metering and are required to take all reasonable steps to install a smart meter where a meter is fitted for the first time or when an existing meter needs to be replaced. Energy suppliers are best placed to make decisions on individual circumstances in accordance with customer needs and availability of existing traditional meters.

The Government is delivering on its commitment to build a whole-UK space ecosystem by working with businesses, academia and Devolved Administrations.

The UK Space Agency has supported each nation to establish Space Clusters to grow their local space sectors, and works collaboratively with local partners to deliver its major funding programmes and events. This includes the government’s Spaceflight programme, and hosting roadshows, workshops, and the regional ESA Business Support Ambassadors.

This year UKSA has funded over £10 million through the Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund to companies in Wales and Scotland, and over £1 million to strengthen the Northern Ireland Space Cluster.

In November 2021, the Government announced the Horizon Europe Guarantee to address the delays in formalising the UK's association to Horizon Europe. Eligible, successful applicants to Horizon Europe receive the full value of their funding for the lifetime of their grants. Successful awardees do not need to leave the UK to receive this funding. As of 31 October 2023, UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) has issued 2,736 Grant Offer Letters for awards of £1.43 billion.

Guarantee award winners are asked to develop and maintain gender equality plans for the project in line with Horizon Europe’s standard procedures.

The Government expects to launch the interactive digital tool to map the UK’s innovation clusters shortly. This follows engagement with a range of stakeholders, from investors and businesses to local government leaders, to inform and test the design of the tool.

I refer my Hon Member to the reply I gave in UIN 3806.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to UIN 4147.

In March 2023, the government endorsed all recommendations outlined in Sir Patrick Vallance's review on pro-innovation regulations for green industries. Currently, multiple government departments are implementing these recommendations. At the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor set out a package to unlock investment into green industries including reforming planning processes, speeding up grid connections, and consulting on introducing new permitted development rights to end the blanket restriction on heat pumps one metre from a property boundary in England.

The UK Government is committed to the advancement of the peaceful use and exploration of outer space. The UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) is the primary multilateral forum which sets the future of global space law and guidelines for the benefit of all humanity: for peace, security and development. The UK attends COPUOS and its subcommittees, playing a significant role to shape law and guidelines that are fit for the future, strengthening relationships with Member Nations and showcasing UK thought leadership in space sustainability. We also work closely with the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs and fund projects to support the peaceful uses of space, including the implementation of the Long-term Sustainability (LTS) Guidelines: publishing them in all six official UN languages and capacity building tools for emerging space nations. We and our experts in the UK Space Agency continue to work in these forums to improve the LTS guidelines and add to the range of guidance available.

In the Autumn Statement 2022, the Government confirmed funding of £1.6 billion for the Satellite Application Catapults for the next five years, from April 2023 to March 2028, which is a 35 per cent increase compared to the previous five years.

Catapults support innovation and commercialisation by providing access to world-leading facilities, skills, and equipment across the UK.

Each of the UK's nine Catapults are funded by Innovate UK to drive innovation and commercialisation at the interface between universities and business.

The Satellite Applications Catapult core grant funding figures for 2018-2023 are as follows:

The Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) is an active participant in Space Partnership working groups. The Space Partnership brings together industry, academia and government stakeholders to work together on priority issues, such as capabilities and skills, to realise the ambitions set out in the National Space Strategy and grow the UK space sector.

The Government Science and Engineering Profession, based in the Government Office for Science, does not/has not spent any funds on communication campaigns on diversity in the private sector STEM workforce.

The Review of Research England’s (RE) approach to Strategic Institutional Research Funding (SIRF) which includes quality-related research (QR), will assess the effectiveness of unhypothecated research funding for Higher Education Providers. It will assess the principles and assumptions underlying current approaches and evaluate implementation. The review, set for 2024, will update the evidence on SIRF's impact, enhance transparency, and engage the Higher Education sector. RE will commission an independent review on the 'Impact of SIRF' in December 2023 and stakeholder workshops in Summer 2024. Any changes to funding approaches will not be implemented before Academic Year 2026-2027.

As a result of the UK’s bespoke deal on association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus, the government has been able to announce substantive investment in wider research and development (R&D) priorities. The £750 million package is fully funded from the government’s record 2021 Spending Review funding settlement for R&D. This includes £250 million for Discovery Fellowships, £145 million for new business innovation support and funding to support a new National Academy of mathematical sciences. These are transformative new programmes that maximise opportunities for UK researchers, businesses and innovators. We will also continue to deliver a multi-billion-pound package of support through the existing Horizon Europe Guarantee.

The £20 million of funding comes from the £121 million in funding announced as a first response to Lord O’Shaughnessy’s recommendations on improving the UK’s commercial clinical trial offer. This £20m is part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's budget. This funding forms part of our manifesto commitment to double dementia research funding by 2024/25.

This Government has created, and will shortly publish, an interactive digital tool to map the UK’s innovation clusters. The tool is the first of its kind will give investors, researchers and policymakers unprecedented visibility of the UK’s established and emerging science and research strengths and innovation assets. By providing investors and others with more insight into the breadth of innovation strengths and opportunities that exist right across the UK, this tool will support our ambition to drive more investment into the UK’s clusters of R&D and Innovation excellence.

As set out in the Explanatory Memorandum relating to the UK’s association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/em-on-ukeu-horizon-governance-document-com23527, any deductions resulting from the clawback mechanism will form part of future UK contributions to the Horizon Europe budget or its successor programme. These contributions to the Horizon Europe budget will be paid by DSIT and will be accounted for in DSIT’s accounts. The Government has committed to investing £20bn in R&D in 2024/2025.

Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) are an eligibility criterion for any organisation applying to any part of Horizon Europe funding. Responsibility for the establishment, monitoring and data collection of GEPs, is a matter for UK Universities and for the European Commission.

Policies from the R&D People & Culture Strategy since its launch over two years ago span many areas of my Department, therefore it is not possible to give an exact number for the full-time equivalent officials working on this endeavour.

The Department considers the national programmes of partner countries when developing policy and programmes in space as part of a range of evidence sources.

Following the creation of the Department in early 2023, we are embedding PSED principles across areas of decision making. For example, PSED is considered as part of policy development and PSED considerations are mandated as part of our senior decision-making processes.

Our approach builds on previous work carried out by the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Cabinet Office (CO).

In accordance with the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017, we will build on existing equality objectives from former departments, drawing on data and evidence to guide a strategic approach to our equalities work.

We commit to publishing equality objectives in 2024, outlining priorities for how we carry out our public functions (as a public authority) and how we treat our staff (as an employer).

Once the bespoke deal for the UK’s association to Horizon Europe is adopted, the UK will be able to join the governance of EU programmes. This ensures that the UK can shape collaboration taking place under Horizon Europe going forward including discussions on the priorities of Framework Programme 10.

This agreement secures UK association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus through to 2027 when these programmes finish. This gives UK researchers and businesses certainty over the access of this programme through to its conclusion in 2027 and for the remainder for 2023 where bids will continue to be assessed under transitional measures.

The Government Science and Engineering Profession, based in the Government Office for Science, run campaigns to encourage diversity in government, within the GSE Profession. In FY 2022-2023 this totalled £27,378.78 and in FY 2023-2024, the spend to date for Q1 and Q2 totals £11,995.99.

Full details of Building Digital UK’s (BDUK) spend on Project Gigabit will be included in its Annual Report and Accounts, due to be published shortly. Project Gigabit funding is not allocated by region, instead it is targeted at premises across the UK that need it most, specifically those outside of suppliers' commercial plans. BDUK’s annual report and accounts will include a breakdown of gigabit-capable connections subsidised in each local authority area.

As of 8 November, over £2 billion of funding has been made available to the market to extend gigabit-capable networks into hard-to-reach parts of the UK.

BDUK publishes regular updates on the contracts it has awarded, and the pipeline of procurements in place across all regions. This includes the indicative value of planned contracts. The latest update was published in September and can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/project-gigabit-progress-update-september-2023/project-gigabit-progress-update-september-2023

On completion of the merger between OneWeb and Eutelsat on 28 September 2023, OneWeb, the UK Government, Eutelsat S.A. and Eutelsat entered into a shareholders’ agreement in respect of OneWeb. Under the OneWeb Shareholder Agreement and the OneWeb Articles, certain matters require Government’s consent, including:

• entering into agreements which may prejudice the OneWeb Group’s ability to enter into agreements with the United States, United Kingdom or Five Eyes governments or which involve the sale of products or services which will be used for defence or national security purposes; and
• changing the location of the executive management or headquarters or centre of operations of the OneWeb Group away from the United Kingdom.

In addition, for so long as the UK Government holds the special share, OneWeb is required to deliver an annual budget and business plan to the UK Government which, under the OneWeb Shareholder Agreement, provides that the OneWeb Group’s centre of operations will be in the UK, that priority for procurement for manufacturing shall be given to businesses in the UK on an arms’ length and commercially competitive basis (based on quality and cost of production), and that provisions will be made for procuring R&D and manufacturing from businesses in the UK on an arms’ length and commercially competitive basis (based on quality and cost of production). OneWeb is also required to procure that the United Kingdom is the preferred location for future launch capabilities subject to such location being commercially competitive.

On completion of the merger between OneWeb and Eutelsat on 28 September 2023, OneWeb, the UK Government, Eutelsat S.A. and Eutelsat entered into a shareholders’ agreement in respect of OneWeb. Under the OneWeb Shareholder Agreement and the OneWeb Articles, certain matters require Government’s consent, including:

• entering into agreements which may prejudice the OneWeb Group’s ability to enter into agreements with the United States, United Kingdom or Five Eyes governments or which involve the sale of products or services which will be used for defence or national security purposes; and
• changing the location of the executive management or headquarters or centre of operations of the OneWeb Group away from the United Kingdom.

In addition, for so long as the UK Government holds the special share, OneWeb is required to deliver an annual budget and business plan to the UK Government which, under the OneWeb Shareholder Agreement, provides that the OneWeb Group’s centre of operations will be in the UK, that priority for procurement for manufacturing shall be given to businesses in the UK on an arms’ length and commercially competitive basis (based on quality and cost of production), and that provisions will be made for procuring R&D and manufacturing from businesses in the UK on an arms’ length and commercially competitive basis (based on quality and cost of production). OneWeb is also required to procure that the United Kingdom is the preferred location for future launch capabilities subject to such location being commercially competitive.

On completion of the merger between OneWeb and Eutelsat on 28 September 2023, OneWeb, the UK Government, Eutelsat S.A. and Eutelsat entered into a shareholders’ agreement in respect of OneWeb. Under the OneWeb Shareholder Agreement and the OneWeb Articles, certain matters require Government’s consent, including:

• entering into agreements which may prejudice the OneWeb Group’s ability to enter into agreements with the United States, United Kingdom or Five Eyes governments or which involve the sale of products or services which will be used for defence or national security purposes; and
• changing the location of the executive management or headquarters or centre of operations of the OneWeb Group away from the United Kingdom.

In addition, for so long as the UK Government holds the special share, OneWeb is required to deliver an annual budget and business plan to the UK Government which, under the OneWeb Shareholder Agreement, provides that the OneWeb Group’s centre of operations will be in the UK, that priority for procurement for manufacturing shall be given to businesses in the UK on an arms’ length and commercially competitive basis (based on quality and cost of production), and that provisions will be made for procuring R&D and manufacturing from businesses in the UK on an arms’ length and commercially competitive basis (based on quality and cost of production). OneWeb is also required to procure that the United Kingdom is the preferred location for future launch capabilities subject to such location being commercially competitive.

Reducing skills shortages for science and technology-based sectors, such as space, is a priority across Government, as set out in the 2023 Science and Technology Framework.

The 2021 National Space Strategy commits to ‘upskilling and inspiring the space workforce’. In September 2023, DSIT and the UK Space Agency published the findings of the 2023 Space Sector Skills Survey, which highlights that nearly 95% of the organisations surveyed experience skills-related challenges.

Government has committed to publishing a Space Workforce Action Plan in 2024, co-developed with industry and academia. The UK Space Agency will also invest over £4m in the next two years towards training to continue upskilling the sector’s workforce, as well as over £6m on inspiring the next generation of space scientists and engineers through educational and outreach activity.

The Francis Crick Institute has produced 8 spin-out companies since being founded. The core grant that Government provides to the institute funds a commercialisation office that supports the creation of spin-outs. Crick Institute researchers and spin-out companies can apply to support programmes funded by UKRI, such as the Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research programme, the Medical Research Councils Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme and Innovate UK's Smart grants.

This year the UK Space Agency has awarded £335,000 funding to the North East space cluster, including to the North East Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications, which is unlocking new opportunities in the North East and to date has helped to secure £12m investment into the region.

The UK Space Agency has also invested £5.7 million into Northumbria University since 2020 through its National Space Innovation Programme to develop the world’s first commercially available laser-based satellite communication system.

Now the terms of the AI Council members have come to an end, DSIT will be establishing a wider group of expert advisers to input on a range of priority issues across the department, including artificial intelligence, in order to expand the diversity of input on policy issues.

The AI Council’s terms of reference established members would sit on the council for a fixed-term period of up to three years, and all current members are invited to join this wider group of expertise.

The wider group of expertise will be separate but complementary to the recently established Foundation Model Taskforce which will drive forward critical work on AI safety and research.

Since it was established, the Council has advised Government on landmark policies including the National AI Strategy and the recent AI Regulation White Paper, which committed to reviewing its role and how Government structures and experts can support the UK’s evolving AI priorities. AI Council members have been invited to join the wider group of technology advisors as we establish the Foundation Model Taskforce.

The Digital Economy Council (DEC) last met on the 18th of January 2023. This meeting addressed the department’s priorities for 2023 and sought feedback from members on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill. Discussions were also held on the Patrick Vallance Regulatory Review. The DEC was also an important contributor to my department’s efforts to help facilitate HSBC’s purchase of Silicon Valley Bank UK earlier this year.

This department recognises the importance and value of engaging with the tech sector via the Digital Economy Council and other complementary fora. The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology also met with the Council for Science and Technology in March 2023; and I continue to co-chair the Digital Skills Council, working closely with industry.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the UK Government Office for Science are working with all government departments to collect and publish sub-national data on their R&D spending. This will allow us to track progress on the R&D Levelling Up mission to increase domestic public investment in R&D outside the Greater South East by at least 40% by 2030, and by at least a third by 2024-5.

The baseline data for 2020-21 was published in April this year, with data for future years made available in due course.

The National Space Council was first formed as a Cabinet Committee in June 2020 to oversee Government policy on Space. Since 2023, it has operated as an inter-ministerial group, tasked with considering all issues relating to prosperity, diplomacy and national security in, through and from Space, as part of coordinating overall Government policy.

It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees and how often they have met, is not normally shared publicly and we therefore will not comment on the National Space Council prior to 2023.

We can confirm that the inaugural meeting of the National Space Council as an inter-ministerial group took place on 19 July 2023. Further meetings are planned for 2023 and beyond.

The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology continues to engage with the Office for National Statistics(ONS) on the development of the business enterprise research and development statistics, as they update and improve their data collection methodologies. The Office for National Statistics is an independent body, and this update is part of a wider programme of work to improve economic statistics and data capture.

In 2023 the Office for National Statistics increased the number of businesses sampled 10-fold, increasing from around 4,000 to around 40,000. This should increase the level of confidence around the granular breakdowns of business enterprise expenditure on research and development and enable the ONS to consider re-instating the level of granularity published in the next release.

On 7th September the Prime Minister announced a new UK- EU agreement on the UK’s association to Horizon Europe from 2024. This means UK businesses and researchers can participate confidently in the world’s largest programme of research cooperation.

In addition, support for businesses and researchers continues to be available via the Horizon Europe guarantee which covers all remaining Horizon grant calls up to and including work programme 2023.

As of 30 September 2023, the Guarantee has issued 2,654 Grants worth £1.395 billion. Further detail on UK participation can be found at UKRI’s Gateway to research website.

The government’s priority is to ensure the UK’s R&D sector gets the right support to allow them to continue their ground-breaking research and international collaboration. UKRI has to date issued grant offer letters totalling approximately £1.36bn through the Horizon Europe Guarantee scheme with further funds to be committed throughout 2023-24. UKRI has delivered further support across the Horizon programme, including elements of targeted investments to support UK research, as announced by the Government in November 2022, - with spend underpinned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. UKRI’s budget remains as published in our Annual Report and Accounts for 2022-23.

We are confident that we will be able to use the Horizon Europe programme to collaborate on areas of shared interest. The UK-EU joint statement of 7 September 2023 includes the EU’s commitment to assess UK participants’ access to strategic parts of the Horizon Europe programme on equal terms with other associated countries. Since the negotiated outcome, my officials have prioritised engagement with the EU at a technical level on the nature of our access to these areas, including space. Existing provisions in the TCA provide additional safeguards to ensure that if the UK is excluded from parts of Horizon Europe, it will not have to pay contributions for that part of the programme.

The figures from the European Commission's Horizon 2020 Dashboard suggest that over 2,000 UK-based private-for-profit entities received almost €1.40 billion from Horizon 2020.

On 7th September the Prime Minister announced a new UK- EU agreement on the UK’s association to Horizon Europe from 2024. This means UK businesses and researchers can participate confidently in the world’s largest programme of research cooperation.

In addition, support for businesses and researchers continues to be available via the Horizon Europe guarantee which covers all remaining Horizon grant calls up to and including work programme 2023.

As of 30 September 2023, the Guarantee has issued 2,654 Grants worth £1.395 billion. Further detail on UK participation can be found at UKRI’s Gateway to research website.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is an independent body. Its most recent release on business enterprise research and development (BERD) was part of an on-going programme of work to improve economic statistics and data capture. The ONS figures provided the best estimate of R&D expenditure at the total UK level which had been validated against other available data. However, there was less data for validation and increased uncertainty in the estimates below the total BERD figures. The Government looks forward to further improvements from the ONS in how the statistics are compiled in future releases, including granular data on products and sectors.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is an independent body. The recent release of the business enterprise research and development (BERD) statistics was part of an ongoing initiative to enhance economic statistics and data collection, which is still underway. This publication provided the most reliable assessment of R&D spending at the UK level, verified against available data. Given the importance of accurate disaggregated figures, the Government will continue to liaise with ONS as they compile BERD statistics in future releases, including more detailed information on particular products and sectors.

As set out in the National Data Strategy, better use of data has the potential to help solve climate change problems and move the UK towards meeting net zero targets.

The Government regularly engages with data centre operators and other relevant data infrastructure providers to understand the steps they are taking to ensure sector resilience, optimise resources, and to reduce their environmental impact. The Government’s Plan for Water also sets out how businesses can play a role in reduced water consumption and increased water efficiency.

Full details of Building Digital UK’s (BDUK) spend on Project Gigabit will be published in the first Annual Report and Accounts in November this year. Project Gigabit funding is not allocated per capita in each region, instead it is targeted at premises across the UK that need it most, specifically those outside of suppliers' commercial plans. BDUK’s annual report and accounts will include a breakdown of gigabit-capable connections subsidised in each local authority area.

BDUK also regularly publishes updates on the progress of Project Gigabit, including the indicative value of local and regional procurements it has launched across the UK. Through our live procurements and the 12 signed Project Gigabit contracts to date, over £2 billion of funding has been made available to the market to extend gigabit-capable networks into hard-to-reach parts of the UK.

Of the 12 signed contracts, over £590 million in funding has been committed across six regions, with more procurements to follow.

Between March 2021 and March 2023, the Department awarded a total of £10.8 million in grant-funding to Tech Nation to support UK tech businesses. Of this, £111,804 was allocated to the Libra programme, excluding Tech Nation’s staff overhead costs. We thank Tech Nation for their valuable work and are pleased to hear that Founders Forum will be relaunching Tech Nation later this year. The Department is not involved in any decisions regarding the continuity of the Libra programme.

The Department assessed the impact of Tech Nation’s growth programmes, such as Libra, through the recently published independent evaluation of DSIT funding to Tech Nation between FY 2020-21 and FY 2022-2023. The Libra Programme supported at least 75 founders from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Given the importance of this issue, the Department embedded diversity and inclusion in the design of the £12m Digital Growth Grant competition. Via this new grant delivered by Barclays Eagle Labs, the Department is continuing to fund dedicated programmes that support underrepresented tech founders. Targeted programmes include the Black Venture Growth Programme, which will support 20 founders per year, and the Female Founders Programme, supporting over 100 founders per year. In addition, Barclays Eagle Labs aims for all grant-funded activities to support a minimum of 35% of founders from backgrounds underrepresented in the tech sector.

In addition to the Digital Growth Grant, the Department also continues to support equality and diversity initiatives in the tech ecosystem more widely, including via its funding to the Tech Talent Charter (TTC). Government has supported the Tech Talent Charter (TTC) since 2017 and this funding has enabled TTC to support over 800 organisations to drive diversity and inclusion in their workforces.

The Department has received HMT approval to launch the Official Development Assistance (ODA) component of the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF). ISPF will have up to £200 million ODA this Spending Review to deliver research and innovation partnerships with developing countries. This follows the announcement of £119 million for non-ODA partnerships when ISPF launched in December 2022.

The Young Innovators Awards programme is delivered by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation. The grant spend for Young Innovators Awards in financial year 2022/23 was approximately £1.4 million. This includes spend associated with Young Innovators Awards 2021/22, Young Innovators Follow on Fund 2021/22 and Young Innovators Awards 2022/23.

The Department has no current plans to fund this. The Department of Health and Social Care holds the responsibility for future pandemic preparedness. Pandemic Preparedness is an area the government keeps under constant review and our strategic approach to pandemic preparedness evolves in response to new scientific information, lessons learned from prior pandemics, responses to other infectious disease outbreaks and rigorous exercising to test our response mechanisms. In addition, over £405 million has been invested to date to secure and scale up the UK’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities to ensure a robust response to COVID-19 and potential future health emergencies.

The Government is moving forward with discussions on the UK’s involvement in EU programmes. Talks are ongoing across the full range of programmes, including Euratom. Whilst the government’s preference is to associate with Horizon, any deal must be value for money for taxpayers and in the best interests of UK science and research.

I refer my Hon Member to the reply I gave in UIN 193652.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education gave to her question 193653 on 20 July 2023.

Higher Education providers are independent, autonomous institutions responsible for their own decisions on staffing issues, including how they structure themselves to deliver research and teaching priorities. Research in mathematical sciences is key for the advancement of all areas of science and technology, and a vital area of science in itself. UK Research and Innovation’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council funds Mathematical Sciences from its core budget, typically spending £25-£30 million per annum. They have also committed a further £124 million out to 2028-29 as part of the Additional Funding Programme for Mathematic Sciences programme.

The Pioneer prospectus sets out these proposals and was developed with input from researchers and businesses across the UK. Since publication, the Government has sought further input from researchers and businesses as we develop these proposals should they be needed.

The Government are clear that Pioneer would receive the same amount of funding as the UK would have paid to associate to Horizon from 2021-2027:

• £2b Talent,
• £3.5b Innovation
• £3.8b Global Collaboration
• £1.7b Infrastructure
• Guarantee and additional support £3.6b by financial year 2027/28.

Total investment £14.6b.

Whilst the UK hopes negotiations on Horizon Europe will be successful, and that is our preference, the Government is prepared to support the UK’s R&D sector by implementing Pioneer.

The first stage of Pioneer is designed to go live within weeks of a decision and consists of a suite of short-term measures. Longer term programmes would then follow.

All aspects of the programme, short and long-term, would be delivered by existing trusted and experienced UK delivery partners, such as UK Research & Innovation and the National Academies who are used to delivering R&D funding at scale.

The Government recognises the significant role that the development and protection of intellectual property plays in the digital economy, especially in telecommunications. In particular, as highlighted in the findings of the Telecoms Diversification Taskforce Report in 2021, Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) have the “potential to serve as considerable barriers to diversification”. SEPs can impact the ability of smaller companies to compete on a level playing field, given challenges associated with identifying and licensing patented technologies.

The Government set out its approach to these issues in both the 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy and the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy. These highlighted the importance of patent development to shaping 6G and future telecoms technologies so that the next generation of mobile networks meet the connectivity needs of the UK and maximise economic opportunities in the sector.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is working closely with the Intellectual Property Office who are currently undertaking a review of SEPs in the context of the UK’s Intellectual Property Framework. This has included specific work gathering evidence from small and medium sized enterprises. Responses to the findings of these Calls for Views were published in August 2022 and July 2023.

I refer the hon. Member to the letter my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to the Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on 23 May. (https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/40161/documents/195836/default).

The Department launched the Upskill in Cyber Programme in May 2023. As of 23 June, three days before closing to new applicants, the programme had received 3750 applications, compared to the previous year's total of 1,876. 70% of these applications were from people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

The National Cyber Security Centre delivers a range of initiatives through CyberFirst, including a schools and colleges recognition programme, the undergraduate bursary scheme, and the CyberFirst Girls Competition for 12-13 year olds. As part of this effort, DSIT also delivers the Cyber Explorers platform for 11-14 year olds.

In the North East, girls from 17 schools entered the CyberFirst Girls Competition and 15 institutions are recognised as CyberFirst Schools and Colleges. Also, 80 schools participate in the Cyber Explorers online platform, including 6 in Newcastle Central.

There are 89 undergraduate bursary students studying at universities in the North East. A further 2,283 learners are registered on Cyber Explorers, including 50 in Newcastle Central, as well as 122 students who have applied to attend a CyberFirst summer course at Durham University.

The Department has evaluated and developed the initial cohorts of the Upskill in Cyber, CyberFirst and Cyber Explorers programmes.

The Upskill in Cyber programme ran a pilot cohort in 2022 and has just commenced its second cohort. This has provided 400 individuals with an opportunity to upskill into a career in cyber security. The National Cyber Security Centre CyberFirst programme delivers a range of initiatives, in partnership with over 200 industry partners and this supports approximately 15,000 young people annually. This is alongside Cyber Explorers, which has now reached 51,937 students across 2,078 schools.

In order to close the annual shortfall of c.14,100 cyber professionals in the labour market, the government continues to engage closely with industry and academic partners to increase the range of opportunities available to individuals across all regions of the UK.

Cyber Explorers was launched in February 2022 and has so far registered 51,937 students, 2,541 teachers and 2,078 schools. The regional breakdown for usage, as of June 2023, is set out below.

DSIT funds chemistry research through UK Research and Innovation. UKRI’s action to address underrepresentation is guided by its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy and its council’s action plans which are published on its website: EDI strategy and action plans – UKRI.

In addition, in 2022 Research England and the Office for Students announced £8 million funding to 13 projects that will seek to widen participation in postgraduate research amongst black, Asian and minority ethnic students.

DSIT continues to work with UKRI and DfE to consider further steps to support access to and widen participation in the research system.

The Government believes that Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) will be of growing importance to the UK economy.

In August 2022, the Government published a Summary of Responses relating to its call for views on SEPs and innovation, and more recently in July 2023 the Intellectual Property Office published findings following a questionnaire aimed at SMEs relating to their experiences around licensing of SEPs. During the Government’s ongoing policy development, it has engaged with relevant industry and international partners, including the EU, and will continue to do so on areas of mutual interest.

The £124 million committed to the Additional Funding Programme for Mathematic Sciences covers the financial years 2020/21 to 2028/29. This is in addition to UKRI’s core funding for mathematical sciences of around £25-30 million per annum.

The UK is home to 4 of the world’s top 10 universities and a $1 trilllion technology sector. Together 8 of our university towns, are home to more billion-dollar unicorn start-ups than France and Germany combined.

The science and technology framework, builds on the Innovation Strategy, with around £500 million new and existing funding. This includes a £50 million uplift to World Class Labs funding to help UK researchers access the best labs and equipment they need to keep producing world-class science.

The Government supports the NHS in R&D of advanced therapy medicinal products, including gene therapies, through the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre network, hosted by the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult. The Catapult, head-quartered in Stevenage, is at the centre of the third largest cluster of cell and gene therapy companies in the world.

In the two years since its publication, substantial progress has been made in delivering the ambition of the Vision, including the publication of the Genome UK Implementation Plan, alongside £175 million for cutting edge genomic research.

Most recently, on 26 May, we announced a £650 million policy package that will support several key areas of the life sciences sector, including clinical trials, biomanufacturing, and skills, and drive economic growth. This month, we have also signed a landmark agreement with BioNTech SE which will provide up to 10,000 UK patients with innovative precision cancer immunotherapies by 2030.

The Government supports the NHS in R&D of advanced therapy medicinal products, including gene therapies, through the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre network, hosted by the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult. The Catapult, head-quartered in Stevenage, is at the centre of the third largest cluster of cell and gene therapy companies in the world.

Additionally, the Science and Technology Framework, published in March identifies the critical technologies that are crucial to the UK. It also details the steps required to build upon our world class research base to attract investment, grow UK companies and talent, and innovate successfully and safely.

Innovate UK, is investing up to £6 million though 225 separate awards comprising the Begin and Build strands of Diverse Innovators Award. Applications for this competition open on 10 July 2023, and it is designed to deliver increased impact by widening the doors to invite a wider range of under-represented innovators with great ideas to engage with Innovate UK as they start and build their businesses.

The specific sums granted were:

For Women in Innovation, £2m in 2020 and 2021 and increasing to £2.5m in 2022.

For Young Innovators, £1.59m in 2020 and 2021 and increasing to £2.4m in 2022.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council funds Mathematical Sciences from its core budget, typically spending around £25-30 million per annum. They have also committed a further £124 million which will spend out to 2028-29 as part of the Additional Funding Programme for Mathematic Sciences commitment.

Overall, over the last five years UKRI has funded around £60m per annum in mathematical sciences up to FY2020/21. In 2021/22 this figure was around £80 million due to the additional funding for the mathematical sciences programme. Data for more recent years is not yet available for across all of UKRI.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council funds Mathematical Sciences from its core budget, typically spending around £25-30 million per annum. They have also committed a further £124 million which will spend out to 2028-29 as part of the Additional Funding Programme for Mathematic Sciences commitment.

Overall, over the last five years UKRI has funded around £60m per annum in mathematical sciences up to FY2020/21. In 2021/22 this figure was around £80 million due to the additional funding for the mathematical sciences programme. Data for more recent years is not yet available for across all of UKRI.

Innovate UK is taking steps to provide opportunities for people from under-represented groups. These are in line with the UKRI Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy published on 17 March 2023 and the UKRI Workforce Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy published on 17 January 2023. Actions include introducing an updated an updated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) data survey, which is being used to identify under-represented groups, investigate the reasons for this and take appropriate and effective steps to improve representation. In 2023, Innovate UK is also building on the legacy and success of its existing targeted programmes: Women in Innovation and Young Innovators. They are launching a new and ambitious programme called Diverse Innovators: Begin and Build.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published detailed figures for shipbuilding R&D performed by businesses in the UK for years up to 2020, including how much of this was financed by the UK government, as part of its Business Enterprise Research and Development (BERD) release. In 2020 this was £393m of which £356m was funded by the UK Government. Because of the recent ONS methodology changes, it did not publish this detail for 2021, but I hope it will be able to do so in future releases.

UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is partnering with the Department of Transport to provide £7.4m funding to establish a flagship UK national clean maritime research hub due to begin in September 2023. EPSRC also supports £58m of research in the maritime sector.

The Department is working across HMG to develop, strengthen and amplify UK-Africa science and tech partnerships across the continent, focusing our efforts where the UK has strong existing and historical relationships; where the country is a leader in science, tech and data across the continent; and where partnerships could have broader impacts for development and diplomatic impact across the region.

In 2023, Innovate UK is building on the legacy and success of its existing targeted programmes: Women in Innovation and Young Innovators. They are launching a new and ambitious programme called Diverse Innovators: Begin and Build. This new Innovate UK core funding competition is designed to deliver increased impact by widening the doors to invite a wider range of under-represented innovators with great ideas to engage with Innovate UK as they start and build their businesses.

Innovate UK (IUK) encourages and supports collaboration between businesses and universities. IUK funds the Catapults to support business innovation and drive collaboration in supply chains throughout the economy. Between 2013 and 2022, Catapults established over 5,000 academic and 18,000 industry collaborations. IUK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) enables early career researchers to work with business on their research priorities and supports 885 projects (as of FY22/23), partnering with 105 universities, colleges, and research organisations. 78% of KTP projects are with SMEs. IUK’s Knowledge Transfer Networks also bring together experts from industry, academia and finance to support businesses to access cutting-edge research.

While we do not set targets or estimate benefits, all UK development activity is governed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) rules: that activity is targeted at the economic development and welfare of developing countries. The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) audit the activity. The UK-Africa scientific partnership makes vital contributions to the UK’s development and diplomatic objectives in Africa. Scientific collaborations are helping to overcome many of the most significant global challenges, from public health emergencies to climate change, to energy, education and more.

While we do not set targets or estimate benefits, all UK development activity is governed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) rules: that activity is targeted at the economic development and welfare of developing countries. The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) audit the activity. The UK-Africa scientific partnership makes vital contributions to the UK’s development and diplomatic objectives in Africa. Scientific collaborations are helping to overcome many of the most significant global challenges, from public health emergencies to climate change, to energy, education and more.

The Government’s priority remains to support the UK R&D sector. The Horizon Europe Guarantee provides certainty to UK researchers and business in all scenarios and will be kept under review going forwards.

UKRI is delivering place-based funding opportunities, such as Local Policy Innovation Partnerships and the Strength in Places Fund, to deliver economic, social, and cultural benefits from research and innovation to all UK citizens to support levelling up.

Innovate UK’s Innovation Accelerators and Launchpad programmes, drive cluster development and support collaboration and networking. In each Launchpad (Tees Valley and Liverpool City Region), Innovate UK will invest up to £7.5 million for business-led innovation projects and wrap-around support. This supports our ambition for more places in the UK to host world-leading and globally connected innovation clusters, creating more jobs, productivity and growth.

This package is supported by new and existing funding. £121 million for clinical trials includes £20 million new funding to establish clinical trial acceleration networks (CTANs). The £154 million upgrade to UK Biobank is new money, previously announced subject to business case as part of a package of R&D infrastructure projects in 2022. The precise form the £250 million government support will take through the Long-Term Investment for Technology and Science (LIFTS) initiative will depend on the viable proposals coming forward through the call for proposals. A Written Ministerial Statement regarding this package was made on 5th June 2023.

There have been no recent estimates of the level of intellectual property infringement undertaken by developers of artificial intelligence (AI), but the government is keeping abreast of developments.

The Intellectual Property Office is due to publish independent research into ‘Artificial Intelligence and Enforcement: Opportunities and Challenges’. This report outlines how AI can be used to track and trace Intellectual Property Right (IPR) infringing goods, as well as assessing resulting money flows and the potential use of AI by those infringing IPR.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) speaks to representatives of the artificial intelligence sector on a regular basis.

Following the recommendation of the Pro-innovation Regulation of Technologies Review on generative AI, the Intellectual Property Office is working with the artificial intelligence sector and the creative industries to produce a code of practice on AI and copyright. This includes discussions on licensing copyright-protected material and the ingestion of protected content.

This funding will be invested across the UK. The call for proposals for the £38m biomanufacturing fund and £250m LIFTS initiative are open UK-wide. In addition: the £154m for UK Biobank will include a new facility in Manchester; £grant awarded to Sterling Pharma will be invested in their Northumberland facility; and around £20 million from the Mental Health Mission will set up demonstrator sites in Liverpool and Birmingham. Funding for skills and regulations will benefit companies across the UK and £121 million for clinical trials will support the delivery of clinical trials across England.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will deliver and oversee the £38m Biomanufacturing Fund that was announced on 25 May, which will distribute grants via a competitive process to incentivise investment in the manufacture of vaccines and biotherapeutics that will improve the UK’s resilience to any future pandemics. InnovateUK will deliver and oversee the further £10m of funding towards innovation in cutting edge medicine manufacturing that can bolster the UK’s health resilience, such as nucleic acid technology and intracellular drug delivery that can help improve vaccines.

The Government continues to plan and prepare for a range of pandemic and emerging infectious disease scenarios – including those caused by respiratory (influenza and non-influenza), contact and vector-borne pathogens – and building on lessons learned from exercises and incidents, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The £48m of funding announced on 25 May is one of several tools that the Government will use to ensure we have access to the necessary infrastructure, expertise, and capability to prevent and mitigate against future pandemics.

The Life Sciences Flexible Apprenticeship Manual was co-developed with the Department for Education and the Life Sciences sector. It sets out how existing flexibilities in apprenticeships can be used and delivered in Life Sciences to meet the needs of employers and apprentices. This manual involved no capital, outsourcing, or other costs beyond officials working with industry partners. This is part of the government’s work to deliver the Life Sciences Vision which commits to increase the uptake of apprentices and use of the apprenticeship levy by the sector.

The UKRI Infrastructure Fund (c. £500m over the Spending Review period) invests in significant upgrades and new investments in step changes for research and innovation infrastructure. This investment does not directly fund commercial lab space, but does support the public R&D system’s collaboration with innovative industry, including infrastructures that support clusters like Daresbury and Harwell. We work with UKRI and other public bodies to support investment in existing and new infrastructure, including ongoing work as part of the S&T framework to develop a national plan for investment which aims to improve access to digital and physical infrastructure.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my Hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe on 30th March 2023 to Question 171597.

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.

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.

On 24 April, the Prime Minister and the Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary announced £100 million in initial start-up funding for a Taskforce responsible for accelerating the UK’s capability in rapidly-emerging types of artificial intelligence.

The Foundation Model Taskforce, modelled on the success of the COVID-19 Vaccine Taskforce, will develop the safe and reliable use of this pivotal artificial intelligence (AI) across the economy, and ensure the UK is globally competitive in this strategic technology.

​​With AI set to contribute billions of pounds to UK GDP, the work of the Taskforce will help deliver on the Prime Minister’s priorities to grow our economy, whilst generating better outcomes for people across the country through better public services.

The Taskforce will bring together government and industry experts and report directly to the Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary and to the Prime Minister. The funding will be invested by the Taskforce in key opportunities to support the development of models and increase the UK’s capabilities in this type of AI, which has impacts across the economy.

The Taskforce will develop several specific use cases, likely to be focused on public service delivery (including healthcare) and national security.

It will ensure the UK’s capability in this rapidly developing area is built with safety and reliability at its core, in line with the approach set out in the AI Regulation White Paper published in March.

The UK and US have a longstanding relationship on science, innovation and technology. In 2017 we signed a Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement, reaffirmed under the Atlantic Charter in 2021 at Carbis Bay. Additional mechanisms include joint statements on cooperation in AI and Quantum, and the US-UK Comprehensive Dialogue on Technology and Data announced in October 2022.

UK and US collaborations are being supported through the £119 million International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) in Clean Energy and Climate Change, AI and Quantum.

UKRI works in partnership with many US funding agencies. Examples of collaborations are published on the UKRI website: https://ukri.org.

The technology and skills partnership programme is a stand alone UKRI programme in partnership with the Government of India. It does not include the funding for other collaborative activities listed in the press notice of 26 April.

The Office for National Statistics aims to count research performed in the United Kingdom as part of UK domestic gross expenditure on R&D, but not research performed overseas.

The £8.3 million of funding announced in the press notice published on 26 April forms part of the Government’s funding commitment to R&I and will be counted as part of this commitment.

The memorandum of understanding and the funding announced in the press notice will support researchers in UK universities to develop collaborative research projects with leading researchers in India.

The Horizon Europe Guarantee was launched in November 2021, with the first payment being made in 2022. This means that there is no Horizon Europe Guarantee expenditure included in the Office for National Statistics (ONS) dataset for the year 2020 in table 1f or in the calendar year 2021.

The Department expects the ONS tables to include any Horizon Europe Guarantee scheme expenditure as part of UKRI expenditure for future years.

In the period until 2021, UK Government has provided £80m in Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the Newton-Bhabha partnership. In line with the standard process for reporting Official Development Assistance, spend data for Calendar Years 2022 and 2023 will be available at the publication of the relevant Statistics on International Development (SID) reports

We define R&D as per the Frascati definition in line with international standards. This explicitly includes the cost of administering R&D: "Government budgets for R&D may include a provision for the cost of administering R&D programmes and projects, including for example the formulation of calls, competitive procurement processes and grant solicitations, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of programmes". The Frascati definition highlights that "such delivery costs can be an integral part of the process required to ensure that the funds are used for R&D and for meeting the government's objectives". UKRI is already one of the most efficient funders of research in the world, and we are pushing this even further with the Simpler and Better Funding programme.

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council data is provided in the table below.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted applications and success rates in FY19/20 and FY20/21.

The Government has pledged to increase public investment in R&D outside the Greater Southeast by at least 40% by 2030, and by at least a third over the spending review period.

North East universities received £12 million this year from the Higher Education Innovation Fund, which supports research commercialisation. The Northern Accelerator, a collaboration between North East universities to support spinouts based on their research, received £5 million.

The UK’s Catapults de-risk the transition from research to commercial delivery. The 9 centres in the North-East include the Offshore Renewable Catapult in Blyth, Digital Catapult in Sunderland and Satellite Applications Catapult in Country Durham.

UK Government investment in Research and Development is subject to changes between years that reflect the profile of long-term investments. The long-term trend is one of growing investment, with public expenditure on R&D set to increase to £20 billion per annum by Financial Year (FY) 2024/25 - a cash increase of around a third compared to FY2021/22.

FY2020/21 saw significant one-off investments that did not continue to the same degree into FY2021/22. There was a one-time increase in infrastructure investment of £300 million via UKRI’s World Class Labs programme which concluded in 2021/22. FY2020/21 also saw a large increase in R&D expenditure for emergency Covid research, including vaccines.

The Government has pledged to increase public investment in R&D outside the Greater Southeast by at least 40% by 2030, and by at least a third over the spending review period.

Darlington is home to a High Value Manufacturing Catapult centre, the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre. This £38 million biomedical manufacturing research centre has state-of-the-art facilities and expertise to support businesses in scaling new medicines, developing manufacturing solutions, and navigating the pathway towards commercialisation. Last year, the Government announced over £10 million for the catapult to set up the RNA Centre for Excellence, supporting the scale-up of RNA vaccines and therapies.

In order to support places across the UK to fulfil their potential for innovation, the Government has pledged to increase domestic public investment in R&D outside the Greater South East by at least 40% by 2030, and by at least a third over the spending review period.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) invests across the UK with £25.1 billion allocated for 2022-2025. Innovate UK’s Launchpad programme is an innovation cluster development programme with up to £7.5 million funding available for each Launchpad for business-led innovation projects, such as the pilot in Tees Valley. Additionally, UKRI's Strength in Places Fund provides opportunities for innovation across the UK.

Employees of Department for Science, Innovation and Technology employees remain employed by their previous departments until the new department is established by a Transfer of Functions order.

The information requested is not held centrally by BEIS or DCMS and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Employees of Department for Science, Innovation and Technology employees remain employed by their previous departments until the new department is established by a Transfer of Functions order.

The information requested is not held centrally by BEIS or DCMS and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

This Government has recommitted to increasing public expenditure on R&D to £20 billion per annum by 2024/2025 - a cash increase of approximately a third compared to 2021/22. This includes funding for the UK’s association to Horizon Europe if the UK can agree fair and appropriate terms with the EU, or its alternative, Pioneer, if the UK is unable to secure association.

This information is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

UK Government investment in Research and Development is subject to changes between years that reflect the profile of long-term investments. The long-term trend is one of growing investment, with UKRI’s budget set to increase by 31% between Financial Year (FY) 2017/18 and 2024/25.

FY2020/21 saw significant one-off investments that did not continue to the same degree into FY2021/22. There was a one-time increase in infrastructure investment of £300 million via UKRI’s World Class Labs programme which concluded in 2021/22. FY2020/21 also saw a large increase in R&D expenditure for emergency Covid research, including vaccines.

Higher Education Funding Bodies are devolved for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Therefore, the Department cannot make an assessment of their expenditure.

UK Government investment in Research and Development is subject to changes between years that reflect the profile of long-term investments. The long-term trend is one of growing investment, with UKRI’s budget set to increase by 31% between Financial Year (FY) 2017/18 and 2024/25.

FY2020/21 saw significant one-off investments that did not continue to the same degree into FY2021/22. There was a one-time increase in infrastructure investment of £300 million via UKRI’s World Class Labs programme which concluded in 2021/22. FY2020/21 also saw a large increase in R&D expenditure for emergency Covid research, including vaccines.

Higher Education Funding Bodies are devolved for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Therefore, the Department cannot make an assessment of their expenditure.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 24^th April 2023 to Question 181128.

The annual ONS release, Research and development (R&D) expenditure by the UK government, includes indicative UK contributions to EU R&D expenditure, both recently and in editions prior to 2016. The breakdown can be found in the link below:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes/researchanddevelopmentexpenditure/bulletins/ukgovernmentexpenditureonscienceengineeringandtechnology/previousReleases.

This Government has recommitted to increasing public expenditure on R&D to £20 billion per annum by 2024/2025 - a cash increase of approximately a third compared to 2021/22. This includes funding for the UK’s association to Horizon Europe if the UK can agree fair and appropriate terms with the EU, or its alternative, Pioneer, if the UK is unable to secure association.

UK Government investment in R&D is subject to changes between years that reflect the profile of long-term investments. For example, in FY 2020/21, there was a one-time increase to infrastructure investment of £300 million through UKRI’s world class labs which concluded in 2021/22.

In FY 2021/22, as a result of the challenging financial situation resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government made a temporary reduction to the UK’s Official Development Assistance target, from 0.7% to 0.5% of GDP. This led to a reduction in UKRI’s ODA-eligible R&D expenditure by £256 million in FY 2021/22 compared to FY 2020/21.

The UK funding share would fluctuate in Horizon Europe, based on performance. If the UK's performance over 2014-20 in Horizon 2020 was evaluated and applied to the Horizon Europe programme in terms of the announced budget and the terms of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), a net contribution of up to £3bn would be expected, based on average performance. This is relative to the £14.6bn that the full application of the TCA would have committed the UK to contribute, assuming prompt association from 2021.

Specific spending profiles within the Spending Review 2021 period for Pioneer will be confirmed if the UK cannot secure association on fair and appropriate terms and once the launch date for Pioneer is known. The Government is discussing association to Horizon Europe with the EU, and hope our negotiations will be successful, that is our preference.

The Government is discussing association to Horizon Europe with the EU, and hope that negotiations will be successful. That is the Government’s preference.

If the UK is unable to secure association on fair and appropriate terms, then the Government will implement Pioneer – the UK’s bold, ambitious alternative. The Government is committed to investing up to £14.6 billion in Pioneer until the end of 2027/28. Specific spending profiles within the Spending Review 2021 period for Pioneer will be confirmed if association cannot be secured on fair and appropriate terms. Specific spending Pioneer profiles beyond 2024/25 will be confirmed at future Spending Reviews.

The Government are discussing association to Horizon Europe with the EU and hope our negotiations will be successful. That is our preference. We will not be providing a running commentary on these discussions.

Association would need to be on the basis of a good deal for the UK’s researchers, businesses and taxpayers. If we are not able to secure association on fair and appropriate terms, we will implement Pioneer – our bold, ambitious alternative.

As is usual practice for all spend, the return of funding to the Exchequer in 22/23 reflected the anticipated underspend within the EU programmes ringfence in that financial year. The commitment to invest up to £14.6bn makes clear that, by 2027/28, the same funding as that originally set aside for Horizon association (as agreed in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement) would be invested in the UK’s alternative, Pioneer.

Pioneer would complement the existing UK R&D funding landscape and form part of the Government’s historic commitment to increase public sector R&D investment to £20bn per annum in 2024/25.

ARIA will have maximum autonomy over its research and project choice; its procedures; and its institutional culture. Decisions on the programme portfolio will be set by ARIA, not ministers, and allocation of funding to research projects will be decided by those with relevant technical expertise.

The Government is discussing association to Horizon Europe with the EU and hope these negotiations will be successful. While association is the preferred outcome, the Government is clear that it would need to be on the basis of a good deal for the UK’s researchers, businesses and taxpayers. If the UK are not able to secure association on fair and appropriate terms, Pioneer will be implemented – our bold, ambitious alternative.

Over the coming months, the Department will engage with and seek further input from a range of stakeholders including researchers, businesses and industry as these proposals are developed.

If the Government is unable to secure association on fair and appropriate terms, Pioneer, will be implemented. UK researchers would receive as much funding from Pioneer as the UK would have paid to associate to Horizon from 2021 to 2027 (as agreed in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement). All of this funding will be classified as R&D.

The Government established the Horizon guarantee to ensure there is no loss in funding for the UK sector. The guarantee is in place to cover all Horizon Europe calls that close on or before the end of June 2023. Eligible, successful applicants to Horizon Europe will receive the full value of their funding at their UK host institution for the lifetime of their grants.

The Government continues to monitor the situation closely and may consider whether it is appropriate to change the scope of the guarantee, in which case it will provide updated guidance.

The technology missions are based on the lessons learned from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) which was successful in leveraging co-investment from the private sector.

The Government is committed to increasing domestic public investment in R&D by at least 40% by 2030, and by at least a third over the spending review period.

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) is committed to increasing R&D investment outside the Greater South East. In line with the commitments in the Science and Technology Framework, DSIT is also working with R&D spending departments across Government to ensure investment decisions support delivery of the mission.

Progress against the mission will be tracked by the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) data on publicly funded R&D by region. DSIT and ONS continue to work with Government departments to collect and publish this data. Data for 2020/1 is scheduled for publication in April 2023. Data for the period February 2022 to March 2023 is not currently available.

The Government is committed to increasing domestic public investment in R&D by at least 40% by 2030, and by at least a third over the spending review period.

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) is committed to increasing R&D investment outside the Greater South East. In line with the commitments in the Science and Technology Framework, DSIT is also working with R&D spending departments across Government to ensure investment decisions support delivery of the mission.

Progress against the mission will be tracked by the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) data on publicly funded R&D by region. DSIT and ONS continue to work with Government departments to collect and publish this data. Data for 2020/1 is scheduled for publication in April 2023. Data for the period February 2022 to March 2023 is not currently available.

In order to enable measurement of the mission, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology contributes to the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) work with Government departments to collect and publish data on publicly funded research and development (R&D) by region. Data for 2020/1 is scheduled for publication in April 2023.

The release of the data on publicly funded R&D expenditure by region for 2020/21 this April will build the evidence base for the Government’s Levelling Up mission to increase domestic public R&D investment outside the Greater South-East by at least 40% by 2030.

The International Technology Strategy sets out the UK’s approach for technology leadership on the global stage through strong partnerships. It defines the principles - open, responsible, secure, and resilient - that will guide our international engagement.

Both the UK and the EU have been clear that we continue to be ready to work swiftly and constructively together on a range of issues including UK association and we are now taking forward discussions on UK association.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is working with Government departments to collect and publish data on publicly funded R&D expenditure by region. Data for this financial year is not currently available, and there will be a time lag before it can be published. Data for 2020-21 is scheduled to be published in April 2023.

The Government has pledged to increase domestic public investment in R&D outside the Greater South East by at least 40% by 2030, and by at least a third by 2024-5.

At the 2023 Spring Budget, the Government announced a package of measures to accelerate the progress of our leading digital technology and life science industries. The Department for Science, Technology and Innovation is now working closely with its partner organisations to ensure funding for the newly announced programmes is delivered effectively and through the appropriate mechanisms.

The Intellectual Property Office carries out formality checks on all applications, whether domestic or foreign based. They also conduct robust examination of all Trade Mark applications to ensure each Trade Mark meets the requirements under UK law before it is accepted.

Under UK Trade Mark law, third parties can also challenge Trade Mark applications and registrations on various grounds if they believe there are issues.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), a non-departmental public body funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, funds a variety of research covering lung diseases.

The UKRI Gateway (https://gtr.ukri.org/) provides data on publicly funded research and innovation which is searchable by year and subject area.

Under the Online Safety Bill, all platforms will need to undertake risk assessments for illegal content, and services likely to be accessed by children will need to undertake a children’s risk assessment. This will ensure they understand the risks associated with their services, including in relation to their algorithms. They will then need to put in place proportionate systems and processes to mitigate these risks.

When deciding whether it is appropriate to recommend proactive technology, the regulator must have regard to the degree of accuracy, effectiveness and lack of bias achieved by the technology in question. This will help ensure that companies do not use algorithms that may lead to increased racial stereotyping when using proactive technologies to fulfil their safety duties.

More broadly, the Office for AI is working at pace to develop a White Paper setting out our position on governing and regulating AI to ensure the UK is seizing the opportunity presented by AI whilst addressing the potential risks the technology presents. This approach will establish a framework based on a set of cross-cutting principles to inform how regulators should tackle risks arising from issues such as racial bias in AI decision making. We will work with regulators such as EHRC to explore the practical implementation of our proposed AI regulatory framework alongside regulators’ existing duties.

The Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation’s work programme on Responsible Data Access includes a focus on helping organisations to obtain appropriate access to demographic data to assess potential risks of bias related to ethnicity and other demographic traits. This work follows the CDEI’s 2020 review into bias in algorithmic decision-making, which highlighted a range of legal, reputational, and practical barriers to accessing this data.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answers I gave her on 30 November 2022 to Question 93719, and on 17 January 2023 to Question 122143. Following the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) R&D release, the Department believes that, if the ONS had calculated R&D as a percentage of GDP, it would have produced a figure between 2.6% and 2.7% of GDP for 2019 and between 2.9% and 3.0% for 2020. I used 2.8% in my oral reply as a shorthand for the approximate size of UK R&D in the economy.

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK Tech Sector realises its potential, which can only be achieved by supporting tech companies to grow, scale and list here. The UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) provides crucial, patient capital to early stage, UK-based tech companies arising from the research base. Since its creation, UKI2S has an outstanding track record of successfully investing in early stage tech businesses. The uplift will further support the development of very early stage, high risk tech companies, increase private sector investment, promote opportunities for portfolio companies to scale, and support world-changing ideas to address global challenges.

Table 8 of the ONS BERD release included figures for R&D performed by businesses by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) division. This included the following estimates:

The new ONS BERD data shows different SIC divisions with different changes within an overall increase in total R&D expenditure. The ONS figures provide the current best estimate of R&D expenditure at the total UK level which have been validated against other available data. However, there is less data for validation and increased uncertainty in the estimates below the total BERD figures. The Government looks forward to further improvements from the ONS in how the BERD statistics are compiled in future releases.

The Office for Life Sciences is providing secretariat support for the review and is a joint unit between Department for Health and Social Care and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Three members of OLS staff are involved in this secretariat function as part of their roles. No members of the Department for Business and Trade are providing direct support. Officials from both DHSC and DSIT are providing evidence for the review as experts in Clinical Research.

More places in the UK hosting world-leading and globally connected innovation clusters will create more jobs, productivity and growth. The interactive digital tool and report we will publish, which will map and explain these clusters, will be crucial in helping us develop future policies and attract private sector investment to grow them. We expect them to be used by local leaders to showcase and galvanise awareness of their strengths; government to better understand the impact of our policies and build on what works; and investors to more easily spot opportunities to invest in our world-leading R&D.

The delivery of our National Space Strategy is a whole-of-government effort, co-ordinated through the National Space Board jointly chaired by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the Ministry of Defence. The Government will soon publish the next steps it will take to deliver the National Space Strategy, develop the policy which needs to underpin it, and the concrete action the Government is taking now to support the sector.

In the 2021 to 2022 school year, the UK Space Agency’s funding delivered over 1.5M interactions between young people and space sector professionals, and the Space Placements in Industry programme has seen over 400 university students undertake placements with space employers, with 60% progressing into space careers.

We will invest up to £15 million in the UK Space Agency’s Inspiration programme over this spending period to address the skills gap and inspire the next generation. This funding will improve access to the skilled people that the sector needs, signpost the accessibility of space careers to professionals in other sectors, and ensure that professionals can access relevant training. The space sector continues to benefit from broader STEM careers support delivered by UK Research & Innovation.

The Government has made good progress delivering against every element of the National Space Strategy 10 Point Plan, which set out our initial focus areas. We will soon publish the next steps we are taking to: deliver the National Space Strategy, develop the policy which needs to underpin it, and the concrete action we are taking now to support the sector.

The Department regularly engages with businesses in the space sector that are crucial to delivering investment and sector growth.

Virgin Orbit’s decision to pause operations is a commercial matter for the company. As the company has no permanent staff based in the UK, no UK employees will be affected. Spaceport Cornwall have also confirmed that no jobs will be affected by the announcement. The UK Space Agency is working with Virgin Orbit to understand next steps, as well as any potential effects on the UK supply chain.

The outlook for the UK space sector is very positive. There is significant space launch activity underway in Scotland, with two new spaceports (SaxaVord and Sutherland) anticipating launches in due course. There is also a diverse range of activity beyond launch across the UK space sector, for example in satellite manufacturing, telecommunications, and Earth Observation, which continues to grow rapidly.

The Department has published the National Quantum Strategy. This strategy sets out the ten-year vision for the UK to be a world leading quantum-enabled economy, building on our scientific excellence to create a thriving quantum sector. The strategy commits to establishing a new and ambitious ten-year research and innovation programme, running from 2024 to 2034 and supported by £2.5 billion in funding.

This investment demonstrates a long-term commitment to the sector. Decisions on the specific allocations of this funding will be taken in due course, in accordance with usual government spending processes.

The Government will invest, subject to business case approval, in the region of £900 million to build an exascale supercomputer and to establish a new AI Research Resource, with initial investments starting this year. This will provide significant compute capacity to our AI community and provide scientists with access to cutting-edge computing power.

Further information on this expenditure and its timeframe will be provided in due course once the Government’s usual business case processes for determining new programme spend conclude.

At the Spring Budget, my Rt. Hon Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced several new commitments to support the Science Superpower agenda that will be delivered via a range of funding mechanisms. These include a £900m investment in an Exascale supercomputer and AI Research resource to enhance the UK’s capabilities in artificial intelligence, a £2.5bn investment over the next 10 years to grow our Quantum sector, meeting the commitment in the Quantum Strategy with funding going towards quantum research and innovation programmes, and an AI prize which will award £1m every year for the next 10 years to researchers that drive progress in critical areas of AI.

The Government will respond to the recommendations in the Independent Review of Research Bureaucracy in Spring 2023. The review recommended that funders should seek to reduce bureaucratic burdens and improve application processes, including through experimenting with new funding approaches. The Government response will set out further detail on this.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is implementing a new funding service based on a flexible digital platform which will enable the ability to trial future funding approaches.

The UK has a world leading tech sector, with a dynamic start-up and scale-up ecosystem, and this week’s Budget further demonstrated this government’s commitment to its success.

The problems faced by Silicon Valley Bank in the UK stemmed from the actions relating to its parent bank in the US and are not a reflection of any weaknesses in the UK’s tech and life sciences sector. My department worked tirelessly with the Treasury to facilitate a solution which saw the successful sale of the UK arm of Silicon Valley Bank to HSBC, protecting deposits at no cost to the taxpayer.

In doing so we have protected our critical tech and life science sectors which not only drive economic growth across the country but also deliver life saving products.

These events show that we need to build a larger, more diverse financing system, where the benefits of investment in high growth firms are available to more investors. The Chancellor will provide a plan in the Autumn Statement later this year to deliver a more diverse financing system for innovative UK companies.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 14 March 2023 to Question 158905.

Last week, the Department published the UK science and technology framework, which sets out our goals and vision for science and technology in an enduring framework that will see us through to 2030. This includes a vision to build on the UK's already amazing talent and skills base. Initial work under the framework will include:

• Developing a DfE Skills Dashboard in 2023, to understand the supply and demand of science and technology skills for the technologies that we plan to prioritise.
• Taking forward the Prime Minister’s ambition for all young people to study Maths to 18.
• Working across government, with educators and employers, to develop the pipeline of individuals entering priority computing and digital sectors.
• Finding and attracting the next generation of AI leaders from around the world, showcasing our fantastic offer and matching them to specific opportunities in the UK.
• Continuing to roll out a network of 21 employer-led Institutes of Technology (IoTs), which will offer higher level technical training. IoTs also have a remit to help widen participation at higher technical levels from disadvantaged and under-represented groups.

The Fast Stream is administered by the Cabinet Office and therefore the Department has made no relevant assessment.

The Government is making significant strides in growing public R&D funding which will rise to £20bn per annum by 24/25, up around a third on the level in 21/22.

Domestic public investment in R&D outside the Greater South-East will increase by at least 40% by 2030, and over the spending review period by at least one third. That additional public funding aims to leverage at least twice as much private sector investment over the long term to stimulate innovation and productivity growth across the UK.

Strengthening clusters is a top priority for building our Innovation Nation.  By September, we will publish an interactive digital tool that will map these clusters, helping us attract investment and inform future policy, including measuring the success of policy interventions in growing these clusters.

We are investing £100 million to pilot Innovation Accelerators in three city regions, helping them become major, globally competitive centres for research and innovation, and the government will evaluate the effectiveness of this approach to growing successful innovation clusters. The Investment Zones programme will also catalyse some of the highest potential knowledge-intensive growth clusters.

The Science and Technology Framework sets out 10 actions for the UK to become a science superpower. One action is to create an agile and responsive skills system, which delivers the skills needed in STEM and drives economic growth by 2030. The UK has a large, varied base of talent which responds to the needs of industry, academia and government, including in STEM.

There are no plans for government to introduce diversity targets for the STEM workforce. Given its breadth, this is an issue for employers and representative bodies to consider as part of their action to increase diversity.

Space is a key domain of activity for the UK, and satellite technologies will benefit from and contribute to every area of the Science and Technology Framework published in March this year.

The Government is focussed on delivering the National Space Strategy, and the importance of space to the UK’s sovereign interests was reinforced this week as part of the refresh of the Integrated Review.

The space economy is worth £16.5 billion per year to the UK, and supports more than £360 billion of wider economic activity.

The £250m funding for technology missions derives from the R&D settlement confirmed at the Spending Review 2021. The programme is being implemented by UKRI, including Innovate UK. The technology missions are intended to realise some of the transformative applications of AI, Quantum and Engineering Biology and support the science that built the UK’s leadership in these key technologies. It is anticipated that the £250 million will be matched by equal levels of private investment.

Data access and data use underpins economic growth, unlocks scientific research, adoption of innovations and drives productivity.

The Government is investing £5.29 million in a 2 year pilot that will be delivered in partnership with UKRI.

Alongside the UK Science and Technology Framework, the Government announced an extension to the support provided to Horizon Europe applicants until 30 June 2023. This will ensure that eligible, successful UK applicants will continue to be guaranteed funding. Further information is on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/horizon-europe-guarantee-scheme-extension-to-support-uk-rd.

Following the announcement of the Windsor Framework, the Government welcomes the EU’s recent openness to discussions on research collaboration following two years of delays, and we continue to be ready to work swiftly and constructively together on a range of issues including UK association.

The Government’s position has, for two years since signing the TCA, been to associate with Horizon Europe for deeper innovation collaboration. The EU’s signal of openness to now renew those discussions is welcome, following two years of delays.

We continue to be ready to work swiftly and constructively together on a range of issues including UK association, which will need to properly reflect the financial reality that we are now over 2 years into the 7 year programme and have had to commit significant funds to both the Horizon guarantee and support for the UK sector.

The Government’s position has, for two years since signing the TCA, been to associate with Horizon Europe for deeper innovation collaboration. The EU’s signal of openness to now renew those discussions is welcome, following two years of delays.

We continue to be ready to work swiftly and constructively together on a range of issues including UK association, which will need to properly reflect the financial reality that we are now over 2 years into the 7 year programme and have had to commit significant funds to both the Horizon guarantee and support for the UK sector.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) was allocated a budget of £39.8 billion over this current Spending Review period (2022/23 to 2024/25) for research and development (R&D). The majority of this settlement will transfer to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), while some R&D budget for specific sectoral and net zero programmes will transfer to the Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Some details are still being worked through between Departments and with His Majesty’s Treasury. Full financial details will be set out in due course.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) was allocated a budget of £39.8 billion over this current Spending Review period (2022/23 to 2024/25) for research and development (R&D). The majority of this settlement will transfer to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), while some R&D budget for specific sectoral and net zero programmes will transfer to the Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Some details are still being worked through between Departments and with His Majesty’s Treasury. Full financial details will be set out in due course.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) was allocated a budget of £39.8 billion over this current Spending Review period (2022/23 to 2024/25) for research and development (R&D). The majority of this settlement will transfer to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), while some R&D budget for specific sectoral and net zero programmes will transfer to the Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Some details are still being worked through between Departments and with His Majesty’s Treasury. Full financial details will be set out in due course.

In order to cement our position as a science Superpower, the Government will deliver its commitment to invest £20 billion per annum in R&D by 2024/25. R&D spending across Government is rising 30% in cash terms from 21/22 to 24/25- the largest-ever increase over a spending review period.

The surrender to HM Treasury was as a result of delays in association to European Programmes. Departmental underspends are usually returned to the Exchequer at Supplementary Estimates to ensure spending plans are taut and realistic. Any funding required for association in future years will be made available once there is clarity on UK association to EU programmes.

The Government is monitoring the security threats unique to cellular internet-of-things modules. We have already taken action to ensure that emerging security threats relating to consumer IoT products can be addressed through the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022, and will introduce further security requirements using the powers in this Act as necessitated by the evolving threat landscape.

All successful, eligible applicants to Horizon Europe who cannot receive grant from the European Commission can receive funding, in full, under the UK government’s Horizon Europe Guarantee Scheme. This means that researchers, businesses, and universities can continue their work in the UK and continue important R&D collaboration with European and international partners.

This guarantee was announced in November 2021, with 1,248 guarantee grants awarded up to the end of December 2022 and a further 300 awarded in January 2023. To date, UKRI have issued grants worth over £750 million, to be paid over a 7-year period.

In March 2022, BEIS provisionally allocated £2.35bn this financial year and £2.32bn next year to cover the cost of association, including a significant upfront contribution to the EU paid out to scientists and innovators over a number of years.

As of January 31^st 2023, grants worth up to £751m have been awarded via the UK government’s Horizon Europe Guarantee Scheme, paid over a 7-year period. This is in addition to the packages of R&D investment announced in November 2022 worth up to £684m, including for fusion and earth observation industries. All of this spending is on R&D science related projects. Further details of Departmental expenditure this year will be published in the annual accounts.

The Government launched the UK Horizon Europe guarantee in November 2021 to make sure all successful UK applicants to Horizon Europe can access the same, full value of funding from UKRI that they would have received from the EU.

This means that researchers, businesses, and universities can continue their work in the UK and continue important R&D collaboration with European and international partners.

As of 31st January 2023, the Horizon Europe Guarantee, administered via UKRI, had issued grants worth up to £750 million to 1,548 successful applicants.

As my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister set out in Making Government Deliver for the British People on 7 February, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will focus on optimising public R&D investment to support areas of relative UK strength. The research project I described in the answer I gave to Question 132389 will support this work. I also refer the Hon. Member to UKRI’s five-year strategy (https://www.ukri.org/publications/ukri-strategy-2022-to-2027/) and publications on the regional distribution of funding (https://www.ukri.org/what-we-offer/what-we-have-funded/geographical-distribution-of-funding/).

No specific budget has been allocated to the review. Existing staff have been temporarily re-allocated in order to support the running of the review.

Table 8 of the ONS BERD release included figures for R&D performed by businesses by SIC division. This included the following estimates:

The new ONS BERD data shows different SIC divisions with different changes within an overall increase in total R&D expenditure. The ONS figures provide the current best estimate of R&D expenditure at the total UK level which have been validated against other available data. However, there is less data for validation and increased uncertainty in the estimates below the total BERD figures. The Government looks forward to further improvements from the ONS in how the BERD statistics are compiled in future releases.

Table 8 of the ONS BERD release included figures for R&D performed by businesses by SIC division. This included the following estimates:

The new ONS BERD data shows different SIC divisions with different changes within an overall increase in total R&D expenditure. The ONS figures provide the current best estimate of R&D expenditure at the total UK level which have been validated against other available data. However, there is less data for validation and increased uncertainty in the estimates below the total BERD figures. The Government looks forward to further improvements from the ONS in how the BERD statistics are compiled in future releases.

Table 8 of the ONS BERD release included figures for R&D performed by businesses by SIC division. This included the following estimates:

The new ONS BERD data shows different SIC divisions with different changes within an overall increase in total R&D expenditure. The ONS figures provide the current best estimate of R&D expenditure at the total UK level which have been validated against other available data. However, there is less data for validation and increased uncertainty in the estimates below the total BERD figures. The Government looks forward to further improvements from the ONS in how the BERD statistics are compiled in future releases.

Table 8 of the ONS BERD release included figures for R&D performed by businesses by SIC division. This included the following estimates:

The new ONS BERD data shows different SIC divisions with different changes within an overall increase in total R&D expenditure. The ONS figures provide the current best estimate of R&D expenditure at the total UK level which have been validated against other available data. However, there is less data for validation and increased uncertainty in the estimates below the total BERD figures. The Government looks forward to further improvements from the ONS in how the BERD statistics are compiled in future releases.

Lord O’Shaughnessy has been appointed as Chair for the independent review into UK clinical trials. Lord O’Shaughnessy is not a government official and the role is unpaid.

The Department and officials regularly engage with universities and university bodies, including the Russell Group, on a range of issues and is working on a new interactive cluster mapping tool.

Universities play important roles in their local economies including through education, skills, research, working with local businesses and as employers.

The Department supports universities to further this economic role by funding schemes such as Higher Education Innovation Funding which incentivises universities to work with businesses, public and third sector organisations to increase the economic and societal benefit from their work.

The Connecting Capability Fund which supports universities in sharing good practice in knowledge exchange and commercialisation has supported the Northern Accelerator initiative which has brought together universities in the Northeast to boost their commercialisation activity.

The Department and officials regularly engage with universities and university bodies, including the Russell Group, on a range of issues and is working on a new interactive cluster mapping tool.

Universities play important roles in their local economies including through education, skills, research, working with local businesses and as employers.

The Department supports universities to further this economic role by funding schemes such as Higher Education Innovation Funding which incentivises universities to work with businesses, public and third sector organisations to increase the economic and societal benefit from their work.

The Connecting Capability Fund which supports universities in sharing good practice in knowledge exchange and commercialisation has supported the Northern Accelerator initiative which has brought together universities in the Northeast to boost their commercialisation activity.

As part of implementing the changes announced by the Prime Minister last week work is ongoing, at pace, to define arrangements with regulators and arm's length bodies. Further details will be made available in due course.

Table 5 of the ONS BERD release included figures for R&D employment in UK businesses by broad product group. This included the following estimates:

The new ONS BERD data shows different product groups with different changes within an overall increase in total R&D employment. The ONS figures provide the current best estimate of R&D at the total UK level which have been validated against other available data. However, there is less data for validation and increased uncertainty in the estimates below the total BERD figures. The Government looks forward to further improvements from the ONS in how the BERD statistics are compiled in future releases.

Table 3 of the ONS BERD release included figures for R&D performed by businesses by broad product group. This included the following estimates:

The new ONS BERD data shows different product groups with different changes within an overall increase in total R&D expenditure. The ONS figures provide the current best estimate of R&D expenditure at the total UK level which have been validated against other available data. However, there is less data for validation and increased uncertainty in the estimates below the total BERD figures. The Government looks forward to further improvements from the ONS in how the BERD statistics are compiled in future releases.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will focus on positioning the UK at the forefront of great scientific discoveries and technological advancement. This Department and the Department for Business and Trade will work closely delivering the Government’s priorities, supporting economic growth and innovation, promoting businesses globally and attracting high-value investment.

Table 5 of the ONS BERD release included figures for R&D employment in UK businesses by broad product group. This included the following estimates:

Separately, Table 3 breaks down expenditure on Services R&D into seven product group

and Other R&D into four product groups; it is likely that patterns of employment within each group over time are correlated with patterns of expenditure. The ONS figures provide the current best estimate of R&D at the total UK level which have been validated against other available data. However, there is less data for validation and increased uncertainty in the estimates below the total BERD figures. The Government looks forward to further improvements from the ONS in how the BERD statistics are compiled in future releases.

Table 5 of the ONS BERD release included figures for R&D employment in UK businesses by broad product group. This included the following estimates:

The new ONS BERD data shows different product groups with different changes within an overall increase in total R&D employment. The ONS figures provide the current best estimate of R&D at the total UK level which have been validated against other available data. However, there is less data for validation and increased uncertainty in the estimates below the total BERD figures. The Government looks forward to further improvements from the ONS in how the BERD statistics are compiled in future releases.

Table 7 of the ONS BERD release included figures for R&D performed by businesses by total company employment size bands. This included the following estimates:

Comparable estimates for companies with 0 to 249 employees rose more quickly over the same period. The ONS figures provide the current best estimate of R&D expenditure at the total UK level which have been validated against other available data. However, there is less data for validation and increased uncertainty in the estimates below the total BERD figures. The Government looks forward to further improvements from the ONS in how the BERD statistics are compiled in future releases.