Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Emerging Technology and Innovation Analysis Cell was established; what the annual budget is of that Cell; where that Cell is based; and how many staff that Cell employs.

The Emerging Technology and Innovation Analysis Cell has been renamed the Innovation and Research InSight Unit (IRIS). IRIS was established in summer 2016 and was launched as part of the Defence Innovation Initiative by the Secretary of State for Defence in September 2016. IRIS is based in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and consists of three full-time MOD employees who will be joined by staff from the Home Office. Formal funding is due to commence in Financial Year 2017-18.