Asked by: Lord Broers (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 impact on innovation of moving Innovate UK from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to UK Research and Innovation.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
UKRI was set up in 2018 to maximise the collective impact of the seven research councils, Innovate UK and the research and knowledge exchange functions of HEFCE. The impact of innovation takes a long time to realise. As part of UKRI, Innovate UK have successfully delivered new approaches to innovation funding, such as the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and Innovation Loans pilot.
Asked by: Lord Broers (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have requested that the Competition and Markets Authority investigate the potential purchase of ARM by Nvidia; and if not, what plans they have to do so.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government is clear that Arm is an important part of the UK's technology sector and makes a significant contribution to the UK economy.
The Competition and Markets Authority bears responsibility for assessing any competition impacts arising from the proposed deal and it will be following its normal regulatory processes in examining this deal. Separately, the Secretary of State also has the responsibility for determining whether or not to refer an acquisition on public interest grounds if relevant thresholds in the Enterprise Act 2002 are met. As such, we are examining this potential acquisition carefully.
We note that it is subject to regulatory approvals in multiple jurisdictions and is not expected to complete until 2022. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.
Asked by: Lord Broers (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the acquisition of Arm by NVIDIA, and (2) whether such an acquisition is in the national interest.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Arm is an important part of the UK's technology sector and makes a significant contribution to the UK economy. The Government monitors acquisitions and mergers closely. When a takeover may have a significant impact on the UK we will not hesitate to investigate further and take appropriate action. We are examining this deal carefully.
Asked by: Lord Broers (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the proposal for a two-year graduate work visa for international students will take effect.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Graduate route will be introduced in the summer of 2021. To give assurance to those who begin their course overseas this year, the Government published guidance for international students on 16 June confirming that those who enter the UK to complete their course before 6 April 2021 will be eligible for the route if they meet the requirements.
Asked by: Lord Broers (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how long international students in the academic year 2020–21 will have to be physically present in the UK to qualify for the two-year graduate work visa.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Graduate route will be introduced in the summer of 2021. To give assurance to those who begin their course overseas this year, the Government published guidance for international students on 16 June confirming that those who enter the UK to complete their course before 6 April 2021 will be eligible for the route if they meet the requirements.