Key Facts

• Amendment 22 would insert “The Advanced Research and Invention Agency” into Part VI of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
• £800 million of public money will be spent by ARIA.
• In 2020, UKRI received 371 freedom of information requests and has answered 100 in the first three months of 2021.
• Chi Onwurah estimates that ARIA might receive between three to six FOI requests per year if FOIs were related to public money spent.
• The Campaign for Freedom of Information reports DARPA received just 48 FOI requests in 2019 despite a significantly higher budget.
• NESTA supports radical openness to prevent distrust and encourages transparency to evaluate what works.
• Tabitha Goldstaub cited Google’s moonshot factory as an example where initial secrecy led to better results from allowing more transparency.
• ARIA is expected to receive a disproportionate number of FOI requests relative to its size.
• UKRI has a dedicated team handling over 300 FOI requests annually.
• The Bill includes annual reports, publication of accounts and spending, non-legislative transparency mechanisms, and public selection processes.
• Chi Onwurah argues for transparency through the Freedom of Information Act.
• The amendment to subject ARIA to FOI is pressed to a Division.
• The amendment is voted down with 5 in favor and 9 against.
• Amendments 23 and 24 aim to insert 'and the humanities' after 'social sciences'.
• ARIA is currently focused on scientific breakthroughs.
• The Arts and Humanities Research Council supports humanities research.
• The definition of 'invention' is discussed as part of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill.
• Clause 12 includes definitions of 'scientific knowledge' and 'scientific research' that mirror provisions in the Science and Technology Act 1965.
• The term 'invention' does not have a specific definition under the Patents Act 1977.
• The new clause would require the Secretary of State to protect ARIA's independence when exercising its functions.
• Tabitha Goldstaub, Dr Dugan, and Professor Glover have all testified on the importance of ARIA’s independence.
• There are concerns about conflicts of interest and cronyism affecting ARIA's operational freedom.
• The new clause proposes ARIA must regard carbon costs in decisions with net zero carbon costs.
• New clause 3 aims to ensure ARIA's funding is presented transparently as a discrete item in supply estimates.
• Clause 4 requires ARIA to develop an ethical investment code within three months of the Act's commencement.
• Chi Onwurah raised concerns about ARIA's potential collaboration with a Chinese tech company involved in Uyghur human rights abuses.
• The Government cited the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention on Human Rights as legal protections for ARIA operations.
• The Minister, Amanda Solloway, stated that ARIA will operate in compliance with existing laws regarding human rights.
• The speaker thanks the Committee Chairs, Clerks, Hansard reporters, and parliamentary staff.
• Contributions are praised as good-natured and constructive.
• Witness testimonies from the previous week are acknowledged.