Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 17 May 2023 to Question 185591 on Science: Laboratories, what proportion of the £500 million for research and innovation infrastructure has been invested in affordable lab space, and whether her Department has a measurable target to increase laboratory (a) availability and (b) infrastructure.

The UKRI Infrastructure Fund (c. £500m over the Spending Review period) invests in significant upgrades and new investments in step changes for research and innovation infrastructure. This investment does not directly fund commercial lab space, but does support the public R&D system’s collaboration with innovative industry, including infrastructures that support clusters like Daresbury and Harwell. We work with UKRI and other public bodies to support investment in existing and new infrastructure, including ongoing work as part of the S&T framework to develop a national plan for investment which aims to improve access to digital and physical infrastructure.