Research and Development 2024-10-16
2024-10-16
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about steps being taken to improve domestic R&D capabilities.
What steps he is taking to help improve domestic research and development capabilities. I am concerned that without proper funding and support, our local organisations will struggle to compete on a global scale.
The UK's R&D system is a central strength and vital for the future prosperity and wellbeing of our citizens. We are investing through UK Research and Innovation to continuously improve our R&D capabilities. In July we launched five new quantum technology hubs, which are delivered by UKRI and backed by over £100 million-worth of Government funding.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify measures being implemented
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Turbo Power Systems is a global company built on research and development in the MP's constituency.
Would the Secretary of State be happy to visit it, as I have, to see its fantastic work? Turbo Power Systems is a prime example of a local organisation contributing significantly to national goals.
Of course, I look forward to visiting Turbo Power Systems the next time I am in the region and seeing the amazing work it does. It is contributing to one of the key missions of this Government, which is to get to clean superpower status by 2030.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to a visit
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Yorkshire Cancer Research has been founded for nearly a century, contributing significantly to medical research.
Given that we have 8% of the population but less than 5% of R&D funding is spent on R&D in Yorkshire, what more can the Secretary of State do to ensure that R&D opportunity investment is spread across our country?
This Government are committed to investing across the whole country, and have invested £118 million in healthcare research and partnership hubs outside London. I hope that this benefits the hon. Gentleman's area too.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify steps for Yorkshire
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The last Government committed to increasing R&D spend outside of the greater south-east by 40% by 2030.
Will he say whether he intends to maintain that target, and/or what steps he will take to ensure that funding is available to drive regional growth and innovation?
This Government are committed to working with local and regional mayors to ensure that local growth plans and the partnerships with UKRI will benefit all regions. These include a £100 million innovation accelerator pilot and £80 million in launchpad programmes.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify target or funding commitment
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP wants to know about the amount of R&D tax relief support issued to Northern Ireland.
Can I ask him whether he holds statistics on how much research and development tax relief support has been issued to Northern Ireland in the last 12 months? If not, can he send me those figures?
We are a Government committed to Northern Ireland and I will be in touch with any specifics that I can follow up with. There have been great advancements in investment in Northern Ireland, which has the highest coverage rates for fast fibre-optic broadband of any part of the United Kingdom.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide or commit to providing figures
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The Secretary of State cut £1.3 billion-worth of funding for R&D in his first act as Secretary of State.
Will he be setting a target, and can he today promise that there will be no cuts to R&D expenditure?
Let us just be honest about what this Government inherited. That £20 billion black hole affects every single Department across Government. My Department inherited a situation where the previous Government committed to an exascale project to which not one single penny had been committed, and I had to make the difficult decision to move forward.
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Assessment & feedback
Shifted blame to previous government
Blame Shifting
Response accuracy