Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to SOPS 1.1 in the Department's 2024-25 Annual Report, if she will publish a breakdown of the £209,590,000 in gross spend on D) Capability in 2024-25; and for what reasons that figure has increased from the equivalent of £118,965,000 in 2019-20 in the equivalent Common Core table of the 2023-4 Annual Report.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The 2024-25 outturn for Capability gross administration costs is broken down as below:
Staff costs* | £84.078m |
Other operating costs | £43.484m |
Purchase of goods and services* | £40.218m |
Matrix programme* | £28.295m |
Depreciation and other non-cash expenditure | £11.455m |
Other costs, including finance costs and grants | £2.059m |
Total | £209.590m |
*As one of DSIT’s major projects, Matrix programme costs have been presented separately i.e. deducted from other totals above.
To note that DSIT was established in February 2023, whereas the reported 2019-20 value is an assumptions‑based apportionment for a department that did not exist at the time; as such the two figures are not directly comparable.
Since the establishment of DSIT, there have been further several structural and operational changes including a further Machinery of Government change during 2024-25, which transferred Government Digital Service (GDS) policy responsibilities from the Cabinet Office to DSIT, increasing the size and scope of the department. New policy areas and programmes have also been established in this period, including the Matrix programme. Collectively, these factors, along with inflationary increases, have contributed to the higher costs recorded within the DSIT Capability line.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to (a) SOPS 1.1. in the Department's 2024/5 Annual Report, a breakdown of the £209,590,000 spent in gross administration costs on capability and (b) Table 1, Annex A: Common Core Tables in the Department's 2020/21 Annual Report, a breakdown of the £118,965,000 spent on Capability in 2019/20, on what basis there is a difference between the two figures.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The 2024-25 outturn for Capability gross administration costs is broken down as below:
Staff costs* | £84.078m |
Other operating costs | £43.484m |
Purchase of goods and services* | £40.218m |
Matrix programme* | £28.295m |
Depreciation and other non-cash expenditure | £11.455m |
Other costs, including finance costs and grants | £2.059m |
Total | £209.590m |
*As one of DSIT’s major projects, Matrix programme costs have been presented separately i.e. deducted from other totals above.
2019-20 outturn for the Capability line as shown within the 2020-21 Annual Report and Account was prepared for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, DSIT’s predecessor department. Since then, multiple Machinery of Government (MoG) changes have taken place, resulting in significant movements of policy responsibilities across government departments, including DSIT, DESNZ, DBT, DCMS and the Cabinet Office.
It should be highlighted that the Matrix programme - representing a material element of 2024-25 expenditure has only come into operation in more recent years. For these reasons, the two financial years are therefore not readily comparable.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to SOPS 1.1. in the Department's 2024/5 Annual Report, if she will publish (a) a breakdown of resource spending on G) Modernising and reforming the work of the Government functions; (b) the £46,366,000 spent in gross administration costs; and (c) the £203,636,000 spent in gross programme costs.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The net resource spending on ‘Modernising and reforming the work of the Government functions’ for 2024-25 was £204.375m. The breakdown of gross expenditure is split between Admin and Programme spend is shown below.
The £46.366m Admin spent in gross administration costs is broken down as below:
Purchase of goods and services | £28.627m |
Staff costs | £17.737m |
Other operating costs | £0.002m |
Total | £46.366m |
The £203.636m spent in gross programme costs is broken down as below:
OneLogin | £82.8m |
Gov.Uk | £21.6m |
Product and Services | £15.9m |
Government Chief Product Officer | £9.5m |
Other (Includes Notify) | £73.7m |
Total | £203.5m |
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to table 1 of Annex A of his Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending of Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit spending on Deliver an ambitious industrial strategy, net in that financial year.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Please find below breakdown of the ‘Deliver an ambitious industrial strategy’ line outturn for FY 2024-25 per table 1 in Annex A of the DSIT Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25:
Geospatial Commission £147.676m
Met Office £146.027m
National Measurement Service £121.310m
Office for Life Sciences £42.384m
Position, Navigation & Timing (PNT) Office £0.564m
Innovation & Research £0.215m
Research Base Innovation £0.012m
Total £458.188m
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, for what reason (a) the number of staff and (b) staff costs have increased at the National Physical Laboratory since April 2017.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a Public Corporation owned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. NPL manages its staffing levels in response to demand for its services from UK Government, industry and academia, and in line with forecasted revenue.
Staffing numbers and costs at NPL have increased since 2017 because of increased demand from Government and industry to build national capability in measurement and standards, aligned with industry needs and emerging tech.
Staffing costs have also increased through annual pay awards, which is managed by NPL and takes account of Managing Public Money and public sector pay policy.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, for what reason (a) the number of staff and (b) staff costs have increased at the Information Commissioner's Office since April 2017.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is independent of government and sets its own staffing levels to meet its statutory duties. The ICO is funded primarily through the data protection fee and manages its resources in accordance with its regulatory obligations.
The volume and complexity of data protection work have increased significantly in recent years, including implementation of the UK GDPR and an expanded regulatory remit. To fulfil these responsibilities and respond to rising public and business demand, the ICO has required additional specialist capacity. Staffing costs have therefore increased in line with workforce growth and market rates for technical expertise, following the civil service pay guidance.
You can find more information about ICO’s staff number and costs in their annual reports, which can be viewed at: https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/our-information/annual-reports/.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to table 1 of Annex A of the Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending of Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (CDEL) spending on Science and Research, excluding CDEL on Science and Research (ALB), net in that financial year.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Please find below a breakdown of the Science and Research line outturn for FY 2024-25 per table 1 in Annex A of the DSIT Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25:
British Academy | £60.228m |
Research Base | £113.700m |
Royal Academy of Engineering | £41.971m |
Royal Society | £111.429m |
Space Directorate | £30.841m |
UK Space Agency | £607.077m |
Research Capital Investment Fund | £37.949m |
Horizon and Copernicus Association | £1,043.123m |
Office for Quantum | £1.197m |
Total | £2,047.515m |
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, for what reason employment and wage costs have increased at the Intellectual Property Office since April 2017.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is an executive agency of the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), with delegated responsibility for operational matters including salaries. Salary costs have increased since 2017 due to two main factors. Headcount has increased over this period, driven both by a sustained increase in demand for IP Services plus investment in a Transformation programme aimed at delivering better digital services to our customers and internal frontline staff. The second reason is the application of the annual pay awards. IPO complies fully with the Cabinet Office annual pay remit guidance and annual pay cases are approved by HMT through a rigorous business case process.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to Table 2 in the UKRI Budget Allocation, published on 17 December 2025, if she will itemise the wider priorities category of targeted investment in industrial strategy growth sectors, including spending allocated to i) climate adaption, environment and resilience, ii) space and iii) food, animal and plant health for each of the remaining years of the Spending Review period.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In addition to funding for the Industrial Strategy sectors, UKRI’s allocations towards strategic governmental and societal priorities and innovative company support include dedicated funding for wider priorities. This category is intended to be open to targeted investment in climate adaptation, environment and resilience, space, and food, animal and plant health, while retaining flexibility to respond to emerging priorities. Decisions on the detailed breakdown of funding across the specific areas will be taken in due course, informed by engagement with DSIT, other government departments, and external stakeholders including universities, researchers, industry and innovators. Further details of investments will follow in due course.
Other UKRI areas of investment may also have cross-cutting benefits for these areas, for example through investments in critical technologies and research infrastructure. UKRI will continue to manage its budgets dynamically to capture emerging opportunities and ensure maximum impact.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the total cost was of (a) settlement agreements and (b) special severance payments made to departing staff in the last year.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
For the last financial year, the total cost to DSIT of payments associated with settlement agreements is set out in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dsit-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025
Where relevant, this includes special severance payments that have associated settlement agreements.