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 page 35 of the Industrial Strategy, how many (a) Business Champions and (b) external advisers have been appointed.

My rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s recent speech on science and innovation set out an ambitious approach to tackle the Grand Challenges and put the UK at the forefront of the industries of the future.

There has been extensive engagement on the Grand Challenges which has resulted in business and academic advocates shaping the work and contributing their support as seen as recent events with the national academies and the Resolution Foundation.

We will continue to work with the best from across academia and the private sector as we develop our approach to the Grand Challenges and will be appointing Business Champions shortly.