Every parliamentary written question tabled by Andrew Griffith this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 441–450 of 450 · this parliament
Innovation and Technology, what information the Intellectual Property Office holds on the number of patents registered in (a) July and (b) August 2024.
There were 746 patents granted (registered) by the Intellectual Property Office in July 2024, and 625 patents granted in August 2024. These figures are part of IPO’s Official Statistics and are published each month. They can be accessed on our website.
Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on easing planning rules for data centres.
The Secretary of State has regular formal and informal conversations with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on a range of issues. I welcome the proposed changes to planning policy that would facilitate growth in UK data centre capacity and subsequent growth in the digital economy.
Innovation and Technology, how many special advisers have been appointed by his Department since 4 July 2024.
Three special advisers have been appointed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology since 4 July 2024.
Innovation and Technology, whether he is taking steps to support investment in (a) start-ups and (b) university spin-outs.
The Government is taking steps to increase the availability of capital in the UK and help businesses access finance, including for start-ups and spinouts. For example, our creation of a National Wealth Fund will increase access to domestic capital for businesses, and our ten-year extension of the Enterprise Investment Scheme and the Venture Capital Trust initiatives maintains investment incentives.To support startups, Innovate UK offers businesses loans, grants and investor partnerships at the start-up/R&D stage through to scale up and growth. To support spinouts, the Government is implementing the recommendations of the Independent Review of University Spin-outs published last year.
Innovation and Technology, how many diversity, equality and inclusion officers his Department employed in August 2024.
In August 2024, DSIT employed two members of staff whose entire role was dedicated to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and two members of staff for whom it constituted 50% of their role. This is a reduction from the previous month, where the team was temporarily larger to allow a handover due to personnel changes. There has been no change in staffing numbers since August.
Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to continue implementation of the five goals of the UK Strategy for Engagement with CERN.
The UK is a founding member of CERN, and we are committed to our membership of this globally unique organisation. The government wants to ensure that the UK are maximising the benefits of CERN membership captured in the CERN Strategy. The UK will continue to work closely with CERN now and in the future to drive research excellence, foster talent & skills and inspire the science community, while working to increase returns to UK industry and strengthening our relationships with all our fellow CERN Member States.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to his Department's publication entitled DSIT annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024, published on 12 September 2024, whether his Department plans to use the £599 million underspend.
As set out in guidance underspends cannot be automatically carried forward into the following financial year.
Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on easing planning rules for SMR reactors.
A new nuclear National Policy Statement (EN-7) is being developed which will provide updated planning guidance and set out any specific assessment criteria for the siting of new nuclear power stations, including Small Modular Reactors (SMR).
Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to support extravehicular activity on UK private space flight missions.
There are currently no plans to provide government support for extravehicular activities on private spaceflight missions.The UK Space Agency has been working with Axiom Space to explore the potential for a UK-led, commercially funded mission to the International Space Station to carry out science and technology demonstrations. Any extravehicular activities during the mission would be focused on functional maintenance and would be carried out by professional astronauts.
If she will take steps to support beyond visual line of sight drone trials.
The Government is committed to achieving routine beyond visual line of sight drone operations in the UK and has provided funding to support the Civil Aviation Authority’s beyond visual line of sight drone trials, whilst also developing the right regulatory framework to make sure drone operations are safe, sustainable and secure.