Innovation in the Black Country 2024-11-20
2024-11-20
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The question is prompted by a desire to increase innovation levels in the Black Country.
What steps his Department is taking to help increase levels of innovation in the Black Country?
We want to boost investment in innovation and enable people in all regions of the UK to benefit from an innovation-led economy. The spending review supports the UK's research and development ambition, with total Government investment in R&D rising to a record £20.4 billion in 16-26. This allows for extending innovation accelerators for another year, funding the Midlands Industrial Ceramics Group through the Strength in Places fund, and supporting the region's investment zone.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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The MP visited Halesowen College's new digital and media campus, questioning the importance of such educational institutes for regional innovation.
Last month, alongside Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands, I was lucky enough to join Halesowen college as it opened its new digital and media campus at Trinity Point. Does the Minister agree that excellent institutions such as this are fundamental to supporting innovation across our region, and would she be so kind as to visit us at some point in the near future?
I agree with my hon. Friend that educational institutes are crucial to innovation. Halesowen college is one of five colleges across the region using the further education and innovation fund to support innovation and technical excellence within the local community. Such facilities and expertise will help businesses develop a workforce with skills and take advantage of that.
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Concern about the Secretary of State's statement on applying statecraft to tech company relationships.
Increasing levels of innovation across the UK are crucial to unlocking growth and solving some of our biggest problems. That is why I was worried to read about the Secretary of State saying that we have to apply “a sense of statecraft” to working with multinational tech companies. Does the Minister agree that what we should be doing is working with such companies as companies, not states, focusing on increasing healthy competition and supporting innovative UK businesses so that they are not left with the choice of being bought up or leaving the UK?
Increasing productivity right across the UK is fundamental to our mission to kick-start economic growth. Through our industrial strategy and the development of local growth plans, we will build on local strengths to ensure that public and private research and development businesses right across the UK help local places to reach their potential.
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Assessment & feedback
Working with companies as states or focusing on increasing healthy competition and supporting innovative UK businesses
Focusing On Productivity And Economic Growth
Response accuracy