Ben Spencer MP: written questions
280 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Space Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18663More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with universities on research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.
Answer: The Department has regular discussions with businesses and universities, including space stakeholders, on a range of issues although there have been no discussions on space weather and its consequences.
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18662More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with businesses on the Government's approach to research into (a) space weather and (b) its consequences since July 2024.
Answer: The Department has regular discussions with businesses and universities, including space stakeholders, on a range of issues although there have been no discussions on space weather and its consequences.
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18661More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with UK Research and Innovation on their approach to research into (a) space weather and (b) its consequences since July 2024.
Answer: Ministers have had no such discussions.However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18660More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to produce a domestic research strategy for space weather.
Answer: Work continues to progress the UK Severe Space Weather Preparedness Strategy which was published in September 2021. The Strategy was developed in close collaboration with the academic community and commits to a series of targeted research and development ...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18659More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with Horizon Europe on UK-based research into (a) space weather and (b) its consequences since July 2024.
Answer: Space research in Horizon Europe is covered under Pillar 2, in the cluster ‘Digital, Industry and Space’. DSIT encourages UK researchers to take part in the available funding opportunities to support international cooperation.The EU has restricted the par...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18658More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment has he made of potential opportunities for research into (a) space weather and (b) its consequences through Horizon Europe.
Answer: Space research in Horizon Europe is covered under Pillar 2, in the cluster ‘Digital, Industry and Space’. DSIT encourages UK researchers to take part in the available funding opportunities to support international cooperation.The EU has restricted the par...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18657More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Research England on research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.
Answer: Ministers have had no such discussions.However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18656More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Innovate UK on research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.
Answer: Ministers have had no such discussions.However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18655More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Science and Technology Facilities Council on research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.
Answer: Ministers have had no such discussions.However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18654More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Natural Environment Research Council on its approach to support research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.
Answer: Ministers have had no such discussions.However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18653More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Medical Research Council on its approach to supporting research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.
Answer: Ministers have had no such discussions.However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18652More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Economic and Social Research Council on its approach to supporting research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.
Answer: Ministers have had no such discussions.However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18651More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had since with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council on its approach to supporting research into space weather and its consequences since July 2
Answer: Ministers have had no such discussions.However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18650More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council on its approach to supporting research into space weather and its consequences since July 202
Answer: Ministers have had no such discussions.However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18649More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Arts and Humanities Research Council on its approach to supporting research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.
Answer: Ministers have had no such discussions.However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpace Weather: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18648More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with ARIA on support for research into space weather since July 2024.
Answer: Ministers have had no such discussions and ARIA does not currently have a programme focused on space weather.As set out in ARIA’s Framework Agreement, ARIA has maximum autonomy over its research and project choice. Decisions on the programme portfolio are...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordEpilepsy and Parkinson's Disease: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17898More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure consistency of the supply of medication for (a) epilepsy and b) Parkinson's disease patients.
Answer: The Department is working hard with industry to help resolve intermittent supply issues with some epilepsy medications. As a result of ongoing activity and intensive work, including directing suppliers to expedite deliveries, some issues, including with s...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDiabetes: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17252More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the total amount of Government investment into type 1 diabetes disease research was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that investment.
Answer: Through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the government committed £17.2 million funding for Type 1 Diabetes research in 2023 and 2024 (and includes funding from the Horizon Europe Guarantee). £8.3 million of this is through UKRI’s Medical Research Counc...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordKidney Diseases: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17251More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the total amount of Government investment into chronic kidney disease research was in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that investment.
Answer: Through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) the government committed £8.9 million for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in 2023 and 2024 is £8.9m. £5.8 million of this is through UKRI’s Medical Research Council funding, which includes research into CKD after pre...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFood: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17250More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with universities on the UK’s approach to research into food biosecurity since July 2024.
Answer: The Department has regular discussions with businesses and universities on a range of issues.
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFood: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17249More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with businesses on the UK’s approach to research into food biosecurity since July 2024.
Answer: The Department has regular discussions with businesses and universities on a range of issues.
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFood: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17248More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the UKRI on their approach to support research into food biosecurity since July 2024.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the reply I gave in UIN 16568
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFood: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16571More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Economic and Social Research Council on research into food biosecurity since July 2024.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of food biosecurity. It is critical in helping prevent the spread of disease-causing agents and protecting the safety of food, animals, and humans. The Department engages regularly with UK Research and Innovation (...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFood: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16570More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council on research into food biosecurity since July 2024.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of food biosecurity. It is critical in helping prevent the spread of disease-causing agents and protecting the safety of food, animals, and humans. The Department engages regularly with UK Research and Innovation (...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFood: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16569More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council on research into food biosecurity since July 2024.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of food biosecurity. It is critical in helping prevent the spread of disease-causing agents and protecting the safety of food, animals, and humans. The Department engages regularly with UK Research and Innovation (...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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