Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Third sitting)

Debate between Dawn Butler and Amanda Solloway

Tuesday 20th April 2021 Public Bill Committees

[Amanda Solloway]

The establishment of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency as a statutory corporation means that the body has its own legal personality that is distinct from the that of the Crown or its individual members, as set out in paragraph 1 of schedule 1. That allows ARIA to enter into legal relations such as contracts, and to hold property in its own right.

A statutory corporation also allows the specific terms of the relationship between Government and ARIA to be set out in law—the composition of the board and the appointments process, for example. In setting that out, we have sought to balance the freedom required for ARIA to deliver transformational scientific and technological advances, but with appropriate ministerial oversight. I hope that hon. Members agree that that is the right vehicle for the creation of the agency.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 1 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Schedule 1

The Advanced Research and Invention Agency

[Dawn Butler (Brent Central) (Lab)]

I beg to move amendment 5, in schedule 1, page 6, line 10 at end insert—

“Memorandum of understanding

2 (1) ARIA and UK Research and Innovation must prepare a memorandum of understanding.

(2) The memorandum must set out how ARIA and UK Research and Innovation intend to co-operate with each other and avoid overlap between the exercise by ARIA of its functions and the exercise by UK Research and Invention of its functions.

(3) The memorandum shall be reviewed on an annual basis and revised as necessary by agreement between ARIA and UK Research & Innovation.”

This amendment would require ARIA and UKRI to prepare a memorandum of understanding setting out how they will collaborate and avoid overlap.

--- Later in debate ---

[Amanda Solloway]

The framework document will be drawn up by the leadership of ARIA, and it is really important that that is how it will be devised. It will not be a Government-led document; it will be drawn up by the leadership and with ARIA.

[Dawn Butler]

I think the Minister has just described an MOU. A framework document that is agreed by UKRI and ARIA, not by the Government, is an MOU, I believe.