Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Hugh Bayley and Jo Swinson

Thursday 18th July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Hugh Bayley (York Central) (Lab)]

16. What outcomes his Department is seeking through its science and society budget.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Jo Swinson)]

Our science and society programme successfully engages people of all ages and backgrounds with science. It includes 25,000 science, technology, engineering and mathematics ambassadors providing positive role models for students to increase and widen participation in science; the biggest ever Big Bang Fair in March this year; and public dialogue supported through Sciencewise to inform public policy.

[Hugh Bayley]

The Science Museum Group, which includes the National Railway museum in York, has had its budget cut by a quarter over the last two spending reviews. It does immensely important work in encouraging young people to take an interest in science, leading to careers in science. Will the Minister meet people from the museum to consider how the science and society budget could be used to fund some of their outreach work, especially with young people?

[Jo Swinson]

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the science budget has been protected because we absolutely recognise the importance of science and research to the future economy and in encouraging people to take on science. The lead sponsor Department for the Science museum and museums generally is the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and colleagues in DCMS will have been engaging significantly with the Science museum and others. I am sure that the relevant Minister will be very happy to meet—

[Hugh Bayley]

Will you meet them? It is your budget.

[Jo Swinson]

I will happily do so. I am answering on behalf of a colleague, but I will happily have that meeting.

[Hugh Bayley]

Thank you.