Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 21 June (HL Deb col 54GC), when they will respond to the September 2021 consultation conducted by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on making flexible working the default.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government will publish its response to the consultation on flexible working in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage investment in (1) so-called 'Wave 2', and (2) other future generations of, vaccines for COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The current overall UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) portfolio of COVID-19-related grants, including awards supported by Innovate UK, includes vaccine projects that provide greater diversity of approaches than for the first generation of vaccines developed. Details can be found on the UKRI website.
UKRI will continue to review ongoing needs in this area with the Vaccine Taskforce.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons given by (1) UK Research and Innovation, and (2) the Medical Research Council, for (a) rejecting, and (b) accepting, applications for grant assistance from researchers developing COVID-19 vaccinations.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), including the Medical Research Council, invited applications for research related to COVID-19, including for research into vaccines, through funding routes such as the joint UKRI-Department of Health and Social Care rapid response call, as well as the UKRI rapid response rolling call. The requirements and guidelines for these were published on the respective application pages and decisions were made under a peer review process and in coordination with the Vaccine Taskforce.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage grant funders to support so-called 'Wave 2' vaccines in development.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The current overall UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) portfolio of COVID-19-related grants, including awards supported by Innovate UK, includes vaccine projects that provide greater diversity of approaches than for the first generation of vaccines developed. Details can be found on the UKRI website.
UKRI will continue to review ongoing needs in this area with the Vaccine Taskforce.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government to whom (1) the Medical Research Council, and (2) UK Research and Innovation, are accountable for decisions taken to support research into COVID-19 vaccines.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) was established under the Higher Education Research Act 2017. The Medical Research Council is a council of UKRI.
The UKRI Board is accountable to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for the delivery of its functions.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether participation by an individual or an organisation in an academic boycott is taken into account in funding decisions by UK Research and Innovation, based on their principles of equality, diversity and inclusion, and in compliance with the public sector Equality Duty; and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Henley
UKRI funding decisions are made on the basis of the excellence of the proposals that are received, and any academic partnerships which strengthens applications and delivers such excellence are encouraged. UKRI does not ask applicants about their political views or activity, or those of the employing organisation. UKRI has clear eligibility criteria and EDI policy principles which the organisations we fund are expected to meet.