Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support collaboration between universities and industry on upskilling to address skill gaps in the domestic supply chain of semiconductor chips.

This Government recognises the importance of skills as a crucial factor in maximising the potential of our semiconductor sector, driving growth, and creating high-quality jobs throughout the UK. My officials are collaborating with stakeholders across industry and academia to understand the challenges faced by the semiconductor sector in order to take the necessary steps needed to expand the talent pool for the long term. The newly announced Skills England will play a vital role in bringing together government, industry and training providers to address the skills needs of the coming decade.