Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alok Sharma and Scott Mann

Tuesday 16th June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Scott Mann (North Cornwall) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to support vaccine manufacturing and the UK life sciences sector.

[The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Alok Sharma)]

We have set up a vaccines taskforce to lead and co-ordinate all the Government’s activities to develop and manufacture a coronavirus vaccine. As part of that, we are investing £93 million in a vaccine manufacturing innovation centre, which will be completed 12 months ahead of schedule, by summer 2021. We are also funding a rapid deployment facility, which will be able to begin manufacturing vaccines at scale from August this year.

[Scott Mann]

Ultimately, throughout this process, we are in the hands of our brilliant scientists. I welcome the Secretary of State’s statement on what he is doing to accelerate opening the vaccine manufacturing innovation centre by next summer, but what more can be done to ensure that we get on top of this disease and address it as early as we possibly can?

[Alok Sharma]

Of course, my hon. Friend will know that we are providing direct support to the vaccines being developed at Oxford University and Imperial College London. He may also be aware that the Imperial vaccine is now set to enter clinical human trials. We are also leading international efforts to support vaccine discovery and deployment.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alok Sharma and Scott Mann

Monday 21st May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Scott Mann (North Cornwall) (Con)]

A small number of my constituents do not have the digital skills or the equipment to be able to process their universal credit online. What is the Department doing to help them?

[Alok Sharma]

Ninety-nine per cent. of universal credit claims are made online, and those who need support to gain basic digital skills are offered digital support as part of our universal support offering.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alok Sharma and Scott Mann

Monday 30th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Scott Mann (North Cornwall) (Con)]

T8. Will the Secretary of State look at what can be done to lift restrictive planning conditions that are holding back long-term economic growth?

[The Minister for Housing and Planning (Alok Sharma)]

Planning conditions should, of course, only be imposed where they are necessary and meet the other requirements of national policy. What I can say more widely is that we are making changes in the planning system: planning fees are being increased, which will ensure there is more money in the planning authorities; and we are also looking at requiring an increase in build-out rates.