Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (First sitting)

Sarah Owen Excerpts

Wednesday 14th April 2021 Public Bill Committees

[The Chair]

Thank you.

[Sarah Owen (Luton North) (Lab)]

Q It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms McVey, especially in my first Bill Committee.

We have heard a lot of evidence in the two sessions about the need for ARIA to identify what it is for. We should also be clear about what it is not for. Professor Wilsdon, do you think that moral and ethical boundaries need to be placed on ARIA?

Professor Wilsdon: You mean in terms of the research areas it would work in?

[Sarah Owen]

Yes.

Professor Wilsdon: I am not sure whether one would need to legislate for that. I would expect that most provisions in those areas would apply, but it is a good question and one that bears more thought. It links a bit to my point about accountability mechanisms. As I have said already, the nervousness is that you combine an institution with a fuzzy, ill-defined purpose with very loose mechanisms of accountability. That is a recipe for all sorts of problems down the line, as well as potentially for great things—who knows? It is a model that has very obvious potential flaws. It is not going to work in the defence arena, which is clearly the one, as I understand it at least, that would raise the most issues in that respect. The key thing is the governance structure for this entity, which I see as too loose.

[The Chair]

I think we are going to hear your question, Aaron, but we will not get the reply.