Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to Answer of 11 December 2017 to Question 117396 on Research: Finance, what the timetable is for the new Strategic Priorities Fund to be operational.

UK Research and Innovation have set out the objectives of the Strategic Priorities Fund in its Strategic Prospectus, published in May 2018. The Strategic Priorities Fund will: drive an increase in high-quality multi- and interdisciplinary research and innovation; ensure that UKRI’s investment links up effectively with Government departments’ research priorities and opportunities; and ensure the system is able to respond to strategic priorities and opportunities. Further details on the operational timetable will be set out in due course.