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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that all regions of the UK benefit from the target in the Industrial Strategy of spending 2.4 per cent of GDP on research and development by 2027.

Through our Modern Industrial Strategy we committed to increasing R&D investment across the economy to 2.4% of GDP by 2027, which would be the highest recorded level, and 3% in the longer-term.

We know that there are significant clusters of R&D strengths in all regions and nations of the UK.

The Government confirmed in the 2018 Budget that the Strength in Places Fund is to receive a further £120m to bring the fund budget for the period up to 2021/22 to £236m. The fund brings together research organisations, businesses, and local leadership on projects that will lead to significant economic impact, high-value job creation and regional growth.