Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Life Sciences Manufacturing

Wednesday 22 May 2024 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government is committed to supporting the life sciences sector, which contributed over 100 billion in turnover and employed more than 300,000 people in the UK economy as of 2022.
  • The Government is addressing the need for more lab space to support the growth of clinical trials and the advancement of lifesaving medicines.
  • The Minister met with dementia mission leaders at 10 Downing Street to announce additional funding aimed at improving early diagnosis, access to trials, and support for life sciences to transform dementia outcomes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gary Sambrook
Science & Technology
Context

The question arises from the importance of the life sciences sector to the UK economy.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to support the life sciences manufacturing sector?

Answer from Andrew Griffith

The Government could not be more committed to supporting our valued life sciences sector, which contributed well over £100 billion in turnover to the UK economy and employed more than 300,000 people in the financial year ending 2022.

Not addressed: Steps being taken to support the life sciences manufacturing sector are not specified

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Q2 Gary Sambrook
Business & Trade
Context

There is a shortage of laboratory space and clinical trials in the UK, impacting companies like Precision Health Technologies Accelerator.

Question

What help can the Government give businesses to increase the number of clinical trials for advancing lifesaving medicines?

Answer from Andrew Griffith

My hon. Friend is right: such is the growth of this important sector that we need more lab space quickly. I personally benefited from the advice of Professor Martini in the life sciences real estate working group. Precision Health Technologies Accelerator does some amazing work in my hon. Friend's constituency to knock down barriers to building, many of which are sadly the fault of Labour councils.

Not addressed: Specific assistance given to businesses is not mentioned

How: Blaming Labour Councils

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Q3 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
NHS
Context

Dementia and Alzheimer's disease remain the largest cause of death in the UK, and there was a pledge to fund dementia research.

Question

What more is the Minister doing to ensure early diagnosis, access to trials, and support for life sciences to transform dementia outcomes?

Answer from Andrew Griffith

Dementia is a crippling disease for so many people, and will touch so many people's lives. The Health Secretary and I recently hosted the heads of the Dementia Mission at No. 10 Downing Street to announce more funding, and I should be happy to meet the hon. Member and any representatives of dementia organisations in his constituency.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions or timeline for improving dementia research and patient care is not provided

How: Offer To Meet

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Q4 Carol Monaghan SNP
Science & Technology
Context

A facility for the production of good manufacturing practice phages would be an asset to many companies in tackling antimicrobial resistance.

Question

What consideration has been given to repurposing the Rosalind Franklin Institute as a GMP facility for phage production rather than selling it off?

Answer from Andrew Griffith

The hon. Lady has made some important points. My officials and I have met representatives of the institute and have considered a number of options for it, of which they and, I believe, she will be aware.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific considerations or decisions regarding repurposing are not provided

How: Acknowledgment Without Specifics

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