Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that the proportion of research and development funding spent by the UK Government in Wales aligns with the population share of Wales in the United Kingdom.

This government is committed to supporting R&D excellence wherever it is found. UKRI has a specific objective to develop world-class places by supporting outstanding institutions, infrastructures, sectors and clusters across the UK. In 2023-24, UKRI invested £168 million in Wales, supporting activity from the Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult in Newport, to the Agri-tech and Food Technology Launchpad in Mid and North Wales, to the Media Cymru project in Cardiff Capital Region. Looking ahead, we are working closely with the Welsh Government to earmark at least £30 million for region in Wales from the new Local Innovation Partnerships Fund.