Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Gagan Mohindra and Liz Kendall(1 week, 2 days ago)
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Liz Kendall
A lot of concerns have been raised by the physics community about this issue. The STFC’s budget is actually flat over the spending review, but, as the executive chair says, there have been overspends in its budget over the past five years or so. Those overspends have had to be met from elsewhere in UKRI’s budget, meaning other things have not been funded as a result. STFC and UKRI are looking at how to get the balance right among their different projects. They, and our Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, will be engaging closely with the physics community over the coming months to make sure we get this right.
Mr Gagan Mohindra (South West Hertfordshire) (Con)
My constituent George works for the Science and Technology Facilities Council. He has highlighted to me that UK Research and Innovation is developing a model that significantly reduces spending for all areas of science under the STFC’s remit, including quantum science, particle astrophysics and theoretical physics. Given that the STFC has already warned staff of potential job losses and that it ran a voluntary exit scheme last year, can the Secretary of State reassure the research community, including my constituent in Chorleywood, by confirming that the STFC science facilities and national labs have the necessary funding and will continue commissioning excellent research for years to come?
Liz Kendall
I reassure the hon. Gentleman’s constituents in Chorleywood—a place I know well—and people right across the country that this Government have provided the biggest ever funding settlement for science. The STFC’s budget is not being cut; it is actually rising slightly, but is flat over the spending review period because of the impact of inflation. Within that context, it is right to ask the STFC and UKRI together to get those budgets under control. Experts will be helping to ensure that we prioritise the most important research. We strongly back curiosity-led research, especially in physics, which is so important for the foundation of our economy and society. However, we do need to sort this problem out.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Gagan Mohindra and Liz Kendall(4 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Liz Kendall
I absolutely will arrange for my hon. Friend to meet the relevant Minister and UKRI to make sure we get this right, because we have to do more to back our world-leading researchers and then turn that research into innovation and future growth. That is the first part of the journey, and we want to—and will—get it right.
Mr Gagan Mohindra (South West Hertfordshire) (Con)
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Gagan Mohindra and Liz Kendall(10 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Mr Gagan Mohindra (South West Hertfordshire) (Con)
Liz Kendall
The Government are providing the stability that businesses desperately need. We are working to transform skills in this country—that is absolutely what most businesses say to me they are desperately short of. We are overhauling our job centres, so that we actually serve businesses’ needs. I would just say gently to the hon. Gentleman that it was under his party that we saw the lowest business investment in the G7. We are going to overhaul that and make this the best country in which to start up and grow a business.