Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, if he will set out his Department's grant schemes, funds and support programmes available for social enterprises, community interest companies and SMEs working in (a) engineering skills development, (b) vocational and technical education, (c) advanced manufacturing and (d) workshop and productive capital equipment investment.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department supports social enterprises, community interest companies, and SMEs through a range of programmes, including skills and training initiatives, the Business Growth Service, and innovation funding delivered by Innovate UK. More information on support available is laid out in the Small Business Plan launched in July 2025.
Eligible organisations may also access support for advanced manufacturing, engineering skills development and investment in plant, machinery and productive equipment, subject to the criteria of individual schemes.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how his department is ensuring UK research is protected from increases in subscription fees to international facilities and resources.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department works with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to manage cost pressures on international research facilities and resources through rigorous scrutiny of costs, risks, and value for money. The UK uses its role in international governing bodies to press for cost containment and operational efficiencies, helping to control growth in set fees. UKRI manages foreign exchange risks through hedging, in line with HM Treasury policy, reducing short-term volatility, but not eliminating longer-term currency and economic pressures.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether there will be a review of UK Research and Innovation governance, in the context of recent Science and Technology Facilities Council funding cuts.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils are responsible for making funding and investment decisions within the strategic framework and allocations set by Government. The Science and Technology Facilities Council's recent prioritisation exercise reflects its responsibility to place its portfolio on a financially sustainable footing while protecting the capabilities most critical to the UK's long-term research and innovation ambitions. The Government works closely with UKRI through its established governance and accountability arrangements and will continue to do so to ensure UKRI delivers effectively against its objectives and supports the UK's research and innovation ambitions.