Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what comparative assessment she has made of the relative advantage to (a) researchers and (b) manufacturers of (i) gene therapies and (ii) other scientific innovations of location in (A) the UK and (B) other European countries.

The UK is home to 4 of the world’s top 10 universities and a $1 trilllion technology sector. Together 8 of our university towns, are home to more billion-dollar unicorn start-ups than France and Germany combined.

The science and technology framework, builds on the Innovation Strategy, with around £500 million new and existing funding. This includes a £50 million uplift to World Class Labs funding to help UK researchers access the best labs and equipment they need to keep producing world-class science.

The Government supports the NHS in R&D of advanced therapy medicinal products, including gene therapies, through the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre network, hosted by the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult. The Catapult, head-quartered in Stevenage, is at the centre of the third largest cluster of cell and gene therapy companies in the world.