Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Answer of 17 October 2023 to Question 200502 on Clinical Trials, whether she is taking steps to support the pharmaceutical industry in the (a) development and (b) use of human-specific technologies.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The government is committed to supporting the growth of technologies that support human-specific research, including stem cell research, cell culture systems, imaging and computer modelling. UK Research & Innovation funds the development of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs) through the National Centre for 3Rs (NC3Rs). Since it was established the NC3Rs has invested £89.3 million in research and £27 million in contracts through its CRACK IT Challenges scheme, mainly focusing on new approaches for the safety assessment of pharmaceuticals and chemicals that reduce the use of animals.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she is taking steps to support the growth of the human-specific technology sector.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The government is committed to supporting the growth of technologies that support human-specific research, including stem cell research, cell culture systems, imaging and computer modelling. The UK has a world leading reputation for the delivery of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (3Rs). UK Research & Innovation funds the development of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs) through the National Centre for 3Rs (NC3Rs) which works to drive the uptake of 3Rs technologies.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to encourage (a) innovation and (b) an increase in the use of drug-testing methods that do not involve animals.
Answered by George Freeman
Government’s approach is to actively support and fund the development and dissemination of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs), primarily through funding from UK Research and Innovation for the National Centre for the 3Rs (NC3Rs) - who have committed £31.6 million for research and innovation into these causes in the past 5 years - and to ensure that the UK has a robust regulatory system for licensing animal studies.
The NC3Rs are on track to meet their commitment to invest 75% of their research and innovation budget on replacement technologies by the end of 2024.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on the affordability of broadband and increased network service prices in 2022-23.
Answered by Paul Scully
Ofcom, the independent regulator, has a statutory duty to monitor the affordability in the telecoms market. My department engages regularly with them on matters relating to the affordability of broadband and other telecoms services.
With regards to network service prices, DCMS engages regularly with Ofcom on matters associated with the wholesale market. Openreach’s prices are regulated by Ofcom as part of its five-year Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review (WFTMR) process, and have been allowed to increase by CPI in order to reflect the significant additional costs faced when deploying new physical infrastructure.
We recognise that this is clearly a difficult time for families up and down the country who are struggling to pay their bills as a result of the global rise in the cost of living.
On 23 January, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport met with Chief Executives from major broadband and mobile providers at which she asked them to consider carefully the need, at this time, for above inflation price increases and highlighted the impact they may have on those already struggling to pay their bills.