(2 years, 7 months ago)
Commons Chamber Robert Courts
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Robert Courts 
        
    
        
    
        The threat posed by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank posed a huge challenge to science and tech businesses in Oxfordshire. Can the Minister update the House on what she has been doing to help those companies, so that they no longer have to look into the abyss?
 Michelle Donelan
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Michelle Donelan 
        
    
        
    
        My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the futures of so many companies, and thousands of UK jobs, were at stake. My Department worked tirelessly with the Treasury to facilitate a solution. In doing so, we have protected our life sciences and tech sectors, which not only drive economic growth across the country but deliver life-saving products.
(5 years, 5 months ago)
Commons Chamber Michelle Donelan
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Michelle Donelan 
        
    
        
    
        I can confirm that this is QR funding that has been brought forward for English universities, but the hon. Member will have noted in the announcement yesterday that it also included a research taskforce designed to prioritise safeguarding our research base. That is a cross-governmental taskforce on which the devolved Administration Ministers will have a seat.
 Robert Courts (Witney) (Con)
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Robert Courts (Witney) (Con)