Contributions
1,658 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for his contribution, which I think was made in a constructive sense. I think the Chair of the Liaison Committee is making a point about that guidance.…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the Minister for her response. I am pleased to hear that she believes that the information requested in amendment 14 is likely to be included in the reporting requirements…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Fourth sitting)My hon. Friend makes an important point. Perhaps the fact that DARPA is part of the US defence establishment, with all the military honour and commitment to the defence of the…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Fourth sitting)I rise briefly to speak in support of the amendment. As the Bill stands, ARIA will not be subject to freedom of information requests. If there is no requirement to report on…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the Minister for her response. I take most comfort from her unequivocal statement that honour in public service is a key characteristic that will be looked for in the…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Fourth sitting)I beg to move amendment 14, in schedule 1, page 10, line 5, at end insert— “(3) The report shall contain information regarding— (a) the proportion of ARIA’s funding in the…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Fourth sitting)These amendments are all concerned with ensuring that the benefits of ARIA are spread across our country and contribute to a more equal and prosperous country. Amendment 14 would…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Fourth sitting)There are two challenges here. ARIA’s funding is between 1% and 2% of the UK’s science spend, depending on whether the aims of the current Government are actually met, so in some…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Fourth sitting)Once again, my hon. Friend has reminded me in his excellent contribution of an important point that I should have made, which was that the regional development agencies, abolished…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the Minister for her comments on schedule 1. While I necessarily disagree with her assessment that the schedule contains all the checks and balances, accountability and…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Fourth sitting)I beg to move amendment 15, in clause 2, page 1, line 7, at end insert— “(1) In exercising its functions, ARIA must have regard to its core mission. (2) In this section, ‘core…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Fourth sitting)It has been a long day and we have had lively debates covering many important themes set out in this admittedly short Bill. We now come to one of the critical themes: the mission…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Fourth sitting)I am speaking about “Star Trek”, so let me finish my point and then I will give way. It was not a general mission to go around the universe and galaxies. It was not a mission to…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Fourth sitting)I accept that it is indeed the USS Enterprise, and I thank the hon. Member for that correction. On the rest of his contribution, I will say once again that I have a great deal of…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Third sitting)I am grateful to the hon. Member for his intervention. I recognise the sterling work that he did as Chair of the Science and Technology Committee and as the Government’s envoy…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Third sitting)It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. I apologise to the Bill Committee for not being here at the start. That was due to a medical appointment that I…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Third sitting)I am happy to give way to an hon. Member who is a great champion of diversity in science.20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Third sitting)The hon. Lady makes an interesting point and it raises two issues. First, how the CEO will be recruited and which rules for public appointment that process will follow is not…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Third sitting)I am grateful to my hon. Friend, and I agree wholeheartedly. The fact that most technology and science has been designed and developed by a narrow demographic minority has great…20 Apr 2021HANSARDAdvanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Third sitting)I echo the disappointment of the hon. Member for Aberdeen North in the Minister’s response, who takes this issue very seriously. The architect of ARIA and the debate around it…20 Apr 2021