Lords to quiz Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng MP on UK Government’s science and technology strategy

The Committee will ask the Secretary of State about progress towards the Government’s science and technology targets, specifically the objective for 2.4% of GDP to be spent on research and development by 2027, and the development of a cross-government science and technology strategy under the National Science and Technology Council.

The Committee will also ask him to respond to issues raised by witnesses to the inquiry including the disruption caused to the sector as a result of uncertainty and policy churn in science and technology, difficulties with scaling up business in the UK and barriers for academics wanting to collaborate with industry.

The public evidence session will take place at 1.00pm (GMT) on Monday 23 May 2022 and can be viewed live on Parliament TV.

1:00pm

• Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Possible question areas include:

• Progress towards the target to spend 2.4% of GDP on research and development by 2027.
• Defining a science and technology strategy
• Stimulating private sector investment in research and development 
• The new National Science and Technology Council and the Office for Science and Technology Strategy
• The science and technology landscape, including R&D budgets in Government departments, UK Research and Innovation, universities, and Public Sector Research Establishments
• International aspects of a science and technology strategy