Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February to Question 29747 on AstraZeneca, if he will place a copy of the requested letter in the House of Commons Library.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Due to commercial confidentiality considerations, we are unable to place the requested letter in the House of Commons Library. As with any application for Government grant funding of this nature, all cases undergo rigorous due diligence, which assesses whether the investment represents good value for money for the taxpayer.
The Government remains committed to improving the business environment for Life Sciences companies. We continue to engage positively with AstraZeneca on the new Industrial Strategy and Life Sciences Sector Plan, due to be published in late Spring. This will set out a comprehensive plan of how the Government intends to drive growth in the sector.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to incentivise R&D investment in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
R&D investment in the UK is 2.8% of GDP, ahead of the OECD average of 2.7%. To further incentivise R&D investment, we are supporting innovators with a record £20.4 billion in R&D spending for 2025/26, which on average leverages £2 of private R&D investment for every pound of public investment. The UK is also a leader in attracting international R&D investment, with the second highest number of R&D inward investment projects in Europe. We are backing high-growth firms through reforms to the British Business Bank and pensions to unlock £80 billion of investment. Our generous R&D tax relief rates are projected to support £56 billion of business R&D expenditure annually by 2029-30.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the oral contribution by the hon. Member for Havant of 3 February 2025, Official Report, column 552, for what reason the letter from AstraZeneca of 9 July 2025 to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology received a delayed response.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government has had numerous discussions with AstraZeneca about their proposed investment into Speke. There were minor delays in replying to correspondence following the election period.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have had with AstraZeneca on vaccine production at Speke.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
My department and I are closely engaged with AstraZeneca as we develop our new modern industrial strategy, which will focus on the sectors with the highest growth opportunity for the economy, including Life Sciences. As part of our engagement, we have had regular discussions with AstraZeneca on vaccine production in Speke.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms in response to the hon. member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted during the urgent question on AstraZeneca of 3 February 2025, Official Report, column 554, if he will publish the requested letter.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms is content to write a letter responding to the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted on this matter in due course.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the impact of the delay in implementing the final provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 on (a) mobile connectivity, (b) data poverty and (c) regional digital inclusion.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to implementing all remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 as soon as possible. These measures will help deliver the benefits of advanced digital connectivity.
Most provisions have already been implemented. Those remaining are complex and technical. The Department will bring forward a consultation on the implementation of sections 61 to 64, including transitional provisions, as soon as possible.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, for what reason the remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 have not been implemented; and what steps he is taking to implement these provisions.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to implementing all remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 as soon as possible. These measures will help deliver the benefits of advanced digital connectivity.
Most provisions have already been implemented. Those remaining are complex and technical. The Department will bring forward a consultation on the implementation of sections 61 to 64, including transitional provisions, as soon as possible.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when he plans to implement sections (a) 61 to 65, (b) 67 and (c) 70 to 74 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to implementing all remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 as soon as possible. These measures will help deliver the benefits of advanced digital connectivity.
Most provisions have already been implemented. Those remaining are complex and technical. The Department will bring forward a consultation on the implementation of sections 61 to 64, including transitional provisions, as soon as possible.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the (a) quality and (b) total area coverage area for (i) 5G and (ii) other wireless data reception in (A) Wokingham and (B) along intercity transport routes; and what steps he is taking to improve in 5G coverage in those areas.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Our ambition is for all populated areas to have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030, and 95% 4G geographic coverage by the end of 2025. We are committed to ensuring we have the right policy and regulatory framework to support investment and competition, alongside improving mobile connectivity for rail passengers.
Although I am conscious that reports of mobile coverage often do not accurately represent people’s lived experience and have written to Ofcom to urge them to review their reporting, they state that 98% of the Wokingham constituency area has 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile operators, and 93% of all roads have in-vehicle 4G coverage from all four operators. Also according to Ofcom, basic (non-standalone) 5G is available from at least one mobile operator outside 91% of premises. Ofcom does not currently publish data on 5G in-vehicle coverage, or coverage data for the rail network, but my own anecdotal experience suggests that 5G coverage along inter city routes is intermittent, poor and at times nonexistent.
The Shared Rural Network programme will improve mobile connectivity on an additional 16,000 kilometres of roads across the UK.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support the life science industry in (a) Berkshire and (b) the UK.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The government has supported Lonza’s plans to relocate and expand their Centre of Excellence for biologic molecules to Thames Valley Park, Berkshire. More broadly the government has published Invest 2035: the UK’s modern industrial strategy to drive long-term sustainable, inclusive and secure growth – securing investment into crucial sectors of the economy including life sciences. By ensuring the NHS works hand-in-hand with life sciences companies and research institutions, we will drive the development of new treatments and help grow our industries across every region of the UK.