Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Government's policy paper, Collaboration on Science and Innovation: Future Partnership Paper, published on 6 September 2017, what discussions he has had with representatives of the Glasgow-based space sector on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the future of that sector.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are committed to positive and productive engagement with UK space companies and want our companies and our universities to continue participating in key EU space programmes. There is regular contact with UKspace, the trade association of the UK space industry and the UK Government’s paper provides a basis for further discussion on the future partnership the UK wants to build with the EU. It considers areas where there are precedents for countries outside the EU to participate in pan-European programmes such as Galileo, Copernicus and Space Surveillance and Tracking.
Glasgow is recognised is home to award-wining companies such as Clyde Space, supplier of CubeSats and small satellite systems as well as The Scottish Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications (SoXSA) at the University of Strathclyde. Scotland is very much part of the UK space success which boasts growth averaging over 8% a year over the last decade, a turnover in excess of £11 billion a year and ambitious plans to achieve 10% of the global space market by 2030. We are committed to positive and productive engagement as we seek a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Government's policy paper, Collaboration on Science and Innovation: A Future Partnership Paper, published on 6 September 2017, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on retaining the UK's place in EU space programmes.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
We have been clear from the start that the Scottish Government should be fully engaged in our exit from the EU. The UK Government’s paper, Collaboration on Science and Innovation: A Future Partnership Paper, provides a basis for further discussion, including with the Scottish Government, on the future partnership the UK wants to build with the EU. We are committed to positive and productive engagement with the Scottish Government, including at the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations, as we seek a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Government's policy paper, Collaboration on Science and Innovation: Future Partnership Paper, published on 6 September 2017, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the space sector in Scotland.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
We have been clear from the start that the Scottish Government should be fully engaged in our exit from the EU. The UK Government’s paper, Collaboration on Science and Innovation: A Future Partnership Paper, provides a basis for further discussion, including with the Scottish Government, on the future partnership the UK wants to build with the EU. We are committed to positive and productive engagement with the Scottish Government, including at the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations as we seek a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how the Government plans to support research collaboration with other countries in the event that the UK ceases to receive funding through the Horizon 2020 programme after March 2019.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
This Government is committed to ensuring the UK remains among the best places in the world for science and innovation. This is why we are increasing research and development investment by £4.7 billion over the period 2017-18 to 2020-21, an increase of around 20% to total government R&D spending, more than any increase in any parliament since 1979.
This Government wants the UK to be the go-to place for researchers, innovators and investors across the world, and we intend to secure the right outcome for the UK research base as we exit the European Union.
As my Rt Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said, we would welcome an agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives. However it is too early to speculate on the UK’s future relationship with specific EU research programmes, including Horizon 2020 and successor programmes.
On 6 September we published a future partnership paper on collaboration on science and innovation. As part of the new deep and special partnership with the EU, recognising our shared interest in maintaining and strengthening research collaboration, the UK will seek an agreement that promotes science and innovation across Europe now and in the future.
UK businesses and universities should continue to bid for competitive EU funds while we remain a member of the EU and we will work with the Commission to ensure payment when funds are awarded. The Government will underwrite the payment of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU. This includes awards that are bid for before exit that are successful after exit.
The Government is committed to ensuring the UK remains a world leader in international research and innovation.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to contribute to the development of the EU's Framework Programme 9 while the UK remains a member of the EU.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The UK is keen to engage positively and productively in the discussions around Framework Programme 9. The Government has made clear our interest in continued collaboration with EU partners on research and innovation. We look forward to continuing discussions with the Commission and all other interested parties.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing the Scotch whisky industry with a sectoral deal to promote its competitiveness and growth.
Answered by Margot James
As part of the Industrial Strategy Government we are supporting sectors across the economy to grow, invest and reach their potential. Our new approach challenges sectors to upgrade through “Sector Deals” - an ‘open door’ challenge to industry to come to us with proposals to transform their sector.
In June 2017 my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to the CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association welcoming their intention to develop proposals for a sector deal for the Scotch Whisky sector. We look forward to working closely with the sector.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the future of the single energy market on the island of Ireland.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department recognises the unique issues raised by the Single Electricity Market on the island of Ireland, and is committed to continue working with the Northern Ireland Executive, the Irish Government and with the EU to make sure that Northern Ireland continues to have access to an affordable, secure and sustainable supply of energy for business and domestic use.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the level of imports of natural gas from the UK by the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Republic of Ireland imports a significant proportion of its gas supplies from GB, so it is important to ensure continued security of supply after the UK has left the EU.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps his Department has taken to support efforts further to research and develop tidal power.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
From 2013–2015, the Government and its agencies (including Innovate UK and the Research Councils) invested on average over £200m per year in support for low carbon innovation. This included support for innovation in the marine sector, including research on tidal power, primarily through the Glasgow-based Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, Supergen Centre for Marine Energy Research and the Marine Energy Array Demonstrator scheme.
From 2016-2021, the Government has committed to increase the UK’s energy innovation spend, such that by 2021 it will have doubled to over £400m per year. This funding will support innovation across the energy sector in regions across the UK. Round four of Innovate UK’s Energy Catalyst programme has attracted proposals from tidal energy developers and details of other funding opportunities will be set out in due course. Through the new Energy Innovation Board, chaired by Sir Mark Walport, the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy will be collaborating with Innovate UK, the Research Councils, and other delivery partners across government, including members of Devolved Administrations, to co-ordinate energy innovation activities.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps his Department has taken to support efforts further to research and develop wave power.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
From 2013–2015, the Government and its agencies (including Innovate UK and the Research Councils) invested on average over £200m per year in support for low carbon innovation. This included research on wave power, primarily through the Glasgow-based Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and Supergen Centre for Marine Energy Research.
From 2016-2021, the Government has committed to increase the UK’s energy innovation spend, such that by 2021 it will have doubled to over £400m per year. This funding will support innovation across the energy sector in regions across the UK. The recent launch of phase five of the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund has already attracted interest from wave energy developers and details of other funding opportunities will be set out in due course. Through the new Energy Innovation Board, chaired by Sir Mark Walport, the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy will be collaborating with Innovate UK, the Research Councils, and other delivery partners across government, including members of Devolved Administrations, to co-ordinate energy innovation activities.