Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Innovation in the Black Country

Wednesday 20 November 2024 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department is increasing investment in research and development to boost innovation across the UK, with a record 20.4 billion planned for the period 16-26.
  • Halesowen College is utilizing the further education and innovation fund to support innovation and technical excellence in the local community.
  • The government's industrial strategy aims to enhance local strengths and collaboration between public and private sectors to increase productivity and economic growth.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alex Ballinger Lab Halesowen
Science & Technology Business & Trade
Context

The question is prompted by a desire to increase innovation levels in the Black Country.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help increase levels of innovation in the Black Country?

Answer from Feryal Clark

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.

Answered
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Q2 Alex Ballinger Lab Halesowen
Education Science & Technology
Context

The MP visited Halesowen College's new digital and media campus, questioning the importance of such educational institutes for regional innovation.

Question

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?

Answer from Feryal Clark

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 Victoria Collins Lib Dem Harpenden and Berkhamsted
Economy Science & Technology Business & Trade
Context

Concern about the Secretary of State's statement on applying statecraft to tech company relationships.

Question

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?

Answer from Feryal Clark

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Working with companies as states or focusing on increasing healthy competition and supporting innovative UK businesses

How: Focusing On Productivity And Economic Growth

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