Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what consideration he has given to the findings of the British Council Scotland and Universities Scotland report entitled Scotland’s Higher Education: Partnering for Global Impact on the importance of international collaboration in university research; and what steps his Department is taking to support such collaboration.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department acknowledges the British Council Scotland and Universities Scotland report, which presents the globally competitive strength of Scotland’s higher education system and its importance in tackling shared global challenges. The Department supports international research collaboration through UK wide activity, including the promotion of universities and the wider research and innovation sector through the UK’s Science & Technology Network, through access to funding support such as Horizon Europe, the International Science Partnerships Fund and our core support to UK research institutions, and through bilateral and multilateral science and technology cooperation. These measures support research excellence and knowledge exchange across the UK, including in Scotland.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many apprentices her Department recruited in 2025, compared to i) 2022 ii) 2023 and iii) 2024.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Office for Equality and Opportunity (OEO) is part of the Cabinet Office. No external apprentices were recruited specifically into OEO in either 2022, 2023, 2024, or 2025.

Although we did not recruit any apprentices, OEO remains committed to professional development; during this period, existing staff members have undertaken apprenticeships alongside their roles to support their career progression and technical expertise.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to ensure that the UK's approach to crop protection authorisation is safeguarded under the proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK-EU SPS agreement is under negotiation and pesticides regulations are in scope. The Common Understanding sets out that the United Kingdom, acting in respect of Great Britain, will dynamically align with all the relevant European Union rules. The Common Understanding further sets out that the UK will be involved at an early stage to contribute to the decision-shaping process on areas within scope of the Agreement.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to secure assurances from the European Union on a permanent carve-out for products authorised under the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 in any new Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government remains committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act and enabling the safe development of innovative genetic technologies.

Under the UK‑EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its own rules. The detail of those is subject to ongoing negotiations, and it would not be appropriate to comment further.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a carve-out for precision bred organisms from dynamic alignment under the proposed UK-EU SPS agreement has been agreed with the EU.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government remains committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act and enabling the safe development of innovative genetic technologies.

Under the UK‑EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its own rules. The detail of those is subject to ongoing negotiations, and it would not be appropriate to comment further.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Liam Byrne (Chair); Dan Aldridge; John Cooper; Sarah Edwards; Justin

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Liam Byrne (Chair); Dan Aldridge; John Cooper; Sarah Edwards; Justin

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Liam Byrne (Chair); Dan Aldridge; John Cooper; Sarah Edwards; Justin

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Liam Byrne (Chair); Dan Aldridge; Antonia Bance; Chris Bloore; John Cooper

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Liam Byrne (Chair); Dan Aldridge; Antonia Bance; Chris Bloore; John Cooper

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Liam Byrne (Chair); Dan Aldridge; Antonia Bance; Chris Bloore; John Cooper

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Liam Byrne (Chair); Dan Aldridge; Antonia Bance; Chris Bloore; John Cooper