Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government why this year's Innovation Accelerator funding was limited to three city regions in England and Scotland; and what plans they have to extend it to Wales and Northern Ireland.

The announcement in the Budget extends funding for the three city regions piloting the Innovation Accelerator programme for an additional year. Longer-term decisions regarding the future of the programme, including any extension to new areas, will be considered as part of the next phase of the Spending Review.