Asked by: Emily Darlington (Labour - Milton Keynes Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment the Intellectual Property Office has made of the potential behavioural impact of (a) the risk of injunction threats, (b) legal costs and (c) high licensing fees in the licensing of Standard Essential Patents on (i) SMEs and (ii) other UK technology companies.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the importance of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) to the UK economy and has sought evidence from industry to identify how SEP licensing practices function to encourage innovation and promote competition.
The IPO continues to assess industry evidence on how the SEPs ecosystem impacts on UK SMEs and technology companies and is considering policy options that could help improve its functioning, including SEP licensing conditions. Any options requiring regulatory change would be part of a consultation and a final decision on holding a consultation would rest with Ministers.
Asked by: Emily Darlington (Labour - Milton Keynes Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress she has made on reducing the cost of housing refugees using Official Development Assistance.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)
Let me state again that the Government is committed to reducing the costs of asylum accommodation, including ending the use of hotels over time. As we make progress on those objectives, it will reduce the amount of UK Official Development Assistance that needs to be used to house asylum refugees in this country.
Asked by: Emily Darlington (Labour - Milton Keynes Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will hold discussions with Cabinet colleagues on increasing spending on international development to 0.7% of GDP in the next spending review.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
This Government is committed to restoring ODA spending at the level of 0.7 percent of GNI as soon as fiscal circumstances allow. The Government is currently undertaking a Spending Review and will set out its approach to the House in due course.