Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Liz Twist Excerpts
Wednesday 21st February 2024

(2 months, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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Julia Lopez Portrait Julia Lopez
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I know that the hon. Gentleman loves to stick the boot in, but he has chosen the wrong subject here. In 2019, there was 6% gigabit coverage, whereas the figure now is 80%. This is a massive infrastructure project, and it is one of the biggest successes that we have, so he has chosen the wrong thing to be snipey about.

Liz Twist Portrait Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab)
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5. What steps her Department is taking to support research and development in medical technology.

Andrew Griffith Portrait The Minister for Science, Research and Innovation (Andrew Griffith)
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The UK has an exceptional record of innovation in medical technology. There could not be a more exciting time for the sector; we are extending the length and quality of human life, and solving rare diseases, with the help of the Medical Research Council’s £650 million grant this year.

Liz Twist Portrait Liz Twist
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The north-east has a fantastic life sciences sector, with 7,000 people working in it and a unique combination of medical and technology assets, networks and academic expertise. However, with business investment at record lows, what are the Government doing to ensure that our brilliant research and development is transferred into real manufacturing jobs?

Andrew Griffith Portrait Andrew Griffith
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As the hon. Lady will know, the Government are investing in medical manufacturing. I would be happy to meet her or businesses in her constituency to make sure that they can access those funds. However, it is only the good stewardship of our economy that has allowed us to continue to invest record amounts in research and innovation in the UK.