Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has taken steps to align the activities of UK Research and Innovation and the UK Health Security Agency.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have complementary roles in preparing for and responding to infectious diseases threats, working in partnership with Department of Health and Social Care/National Institute Health and Care Research and Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs taking a ‘One Health’ approach. To enhance UK preparedness and resilience, UKRI works closely with UKHSA and government departments to ensure the UK has appropriate infrastructure and capabilities to prevent, detect and respond to future threats. In responding to disease outbreaks, UKRI works with UKHSA and devolved administrations, who provide vital leadership on the nature of the threats and the research questions to be addressed.