Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled The UK Science and Technology Framework, published on 6 March 2023, for what reason she plans to raise public investment in research and development outside the Greater South East by at least 40 per cent when the Government plans to double overall public investment in research and development spending.

The Government is making significant strides in growing public R&D funding which will rise to £20bn per annum by 24/25, up around a third on the level in 21/22.

Domestic public investment in R&D outside the Greater South-East will increase by at least 40% by 2030, and over the spending review period by at least one third. That additional public funding aims to leverage at least twice as much private sector investment over the long term to stimulate innovation and productivity growth across the UK.