Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much has been spent on science and research and development through local enterprise partnerships in each region of England; and how such spending compares with equivalent spending in (a) the EU and (b) the G20.

Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and their local partners have strategic direction over £20 billion domestic and EU funding between now and 2020/21. Strengthening research, technological development and innovation is a key objective of the European funds, and LEPs can advance growth-oriented science and research projects for investment through the Local Growth Fund. The Government does not at this early stage of these programmes hold data on the amount spent by LEPs on science, research and development, or on international comparators.

Additionally we recently agreed a City Deal with Glasgow and the Clyde Valley that will see UK Government make significant investments in science and innovation. This includes £16 million to support a Stratified Medicine: Imaging Centre of Excellence at the new South Glasgow Hospital site, £1.2 million towards the establishment of MediCity Scotland, and £1.67 million towards a centre for Business Incubation and Development.