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Answering member
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Baroness Wilcox
Type
House
Session
Year
Department
Member
Primary member
Answering member
More
Wilcox, Baroness (17)
Legislative stage
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Lords question for short debate on what is their response to the Report of the Science and Technology Committee on Setting priorities for publicly funded research (HL 104 2009-10).
Lords question for short debate on what is their response to the Report of the Science and Technology Committee on Setting priorities for publicly funded research (HL 104 2009-10).
Lead member
Lord Sutherland of Houndwood
Answering member
Baroness Wilcox
Department
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Type
Questions for short debate
Subjects
Defence; Capital investment; Finance; Immigration controls; Government departments; Higher education; Engineering; Medicine; Schools; Technology; Research; Science; Government Chief Scientific Adviser; Science and Technology Committee (HL); Chief scientific advisers
Date
8 June 2011
Reference
728 c326-41
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will address the skill gaps and shortages in the United Kingdom outlined recently by Professor Steve Smith, president of Universities UK, Professor Edward Acton, vice-chancellor, University of East Anglia; Professor Dave Wark, Imperial College London, and Simeon Underwood, academic registrar, London School of...
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will address the skill gaps and shortages in the United Kingdom outlined recently by Professor Steve Smith, president of Universities UK, Professor Edward Acton, vice-chancellor, University of East Anglia; Professor Dave Wark, Imperial College London, and Simeon Underwood, academic registrar, London School of...
Asked by
Lord Laird
(Ulster Unionist Party)
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
12 May 2011
Professor Smith's evidence highlighted the important contribution made by higher education students taking science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) courses, towards the development of a strong knowledge economy within the UK.
Her Majesty's Government recognise the value of a strong supply of STEM graduates and the Departments for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and for Education work closely together to ensure that policies and measures supporting the development of a strong STEM pipeline are coherent. Indeed, in 2009-10, 43 per cent of UK-domiciled first degree students took science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) courses.
BIS supports a range of measures promoting STEM careers and occupations, including funding STEMNET and the STEM ambassadors programme. STEMNET is a UK-wide organisation, whose purpose is to ensure that all young people, regardless of background, are encouraged to understand the excitement and importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in their lives and the career opportunities to which these subjects can lead.
BIS also contributes to the cost of the Big Bang Fair and supports the National Science and Engineering Competition in partnership with a number of organisations, and funds opportunities to engage in National Science and Engineering Week.
Government aim to ensure that STEM, and higher education courses in general, better equip students with the skills to help maximise their employment chances. All universities have now set out in employability statements the range of support they provide to students to help develop the skills employers value.
This Government will enable prospective students to make better informed decisions concerning career choices. The Higher Education Funding Council for England is working with the higher education sector to ensure that all institutions publish, on a course-by-course basis, a standard set of 17 key information items. Four such will help prospective students to better understand where their course might lead in employment terms.
BIS continues to work closely with the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, giving employers a lead role in a skills system that is more responsive to their needs. The science cluster of sector skills councils undertake strategic planning and review of activity across sectors dependent upon STEM skills, and aim to provide a responsive fit between STEM skills provision and the needs of employers in their sectors.
Subjects
Higher education; Engineering; Technology; Vocational education; Science; Mathematics
Date
12 May 2011
Reference
8921; 727 c235-6WA
House
House of Lords
I am sorry, my Lords—none whatever. We are as one, as far as I am concerned.
I am sorry, my Lords—none whatever. We are as one, as far as I am concerned.
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Asked by
Lord McAvoy
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, can the Minister give us an assessment of the damage done to the credibility of the Government’s programme of cuts by the expressions of opposition to it by their own Liberal Ministers Webb, Moore and Cable?
Subjects
Finance; Research; Science
Date
22 December 2010
Reference
723 c1093
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the questions of the noble Lord, Lord Broers, always leave me slightly gasping because he is such an expert engineer and has such experience in the field. He must know that all we can say at the moment is where we are and what we hope to achieve in the next four years. I can say no more on this subject at the moment.
My Lords, the questions of the noble Lord, Lord Broers, always leave me slightly gasping because he is such an expert engineer and has such experience in the field. He must know that all we can say at the moment is where we are and what we hope to achieve in the next four years. I can say no more on this subject at the moment.
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Asked by
Lord Broers
(Crossbench)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, I declare my interest as chairman of Diamond Light Source, and expenditure there will certainly be very beneficial. While the Minister has mentioned capital expenditures and the cuts, will she give us an idea of whether the Government will try to recover these capital expenditures before the four years of the CSR are up? These 50 per cent cuts in capital that have been handed to the research councils will progressively deplete our equipment and reduce our competitiveness.
Subjects
Finance; Research; Science
Date
22 December 2010
Reference
723 c1092
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
I will talk first about the Medical Research Council. I think there was a question in there about the budget. We have taken into account the fact that we expect the MRC to have additional commercial income from patent licensing et cetera, which will reduce the amount of headline budget increase. I understand the noble Lord’s worries. I think I can commit us to spending as it is now but no further.
I will talk first about the Medical Research Council. I think there was a question in there about the budget. We have taken into account the fact that we expect the MRC to have additional commercial income from patent licensing et cetera, which will reduce the amount of headline budget increase. I understand the noble Lord’s worries. I think I can commit us to spending as it is now but no further.
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Asked by
Lord Willis of Knaresborough
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, I declare an interest as the chair of the Association of Medical Research Charities. While, like many people, we welcomed the Minister’s very skilful settlement to the research councils on Monday, the reality is that there will be an 8 to 10 per cent cut in funding over the next four years. Will my noble friend confirm that there will be no cut in the full economic costs of research council grants to universities? Will she also confirm that the Charity Research Support Fund will be maintained fully, so that the £1 billion that research charities give to our universities for research will be maintained will full economic costs?
Subjects
Finance; Research; Science
Date
22 December 2010
Reference
723 c1093
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, within BIS, a substantial amount of funding for science and research programmes—£4.6 billion per annum—has been protected within a ring-fence for the four years of the spending review. Separately, the spending review stated that the Department of Health will increase spending on health research in real terms, and we expect the Ministry of Defence research budget to increase in cash terms over the spending period. It is too early to tell what the implications of the spending review will mean for science spending in other departments.
On the part of the Question that deals with advice, the way in which independent institutions make decisions about increases or decreases in their level of research funding is a matter for those institutions.
My Lords, within BIS, a substantial amount of funding for science and research programmes—£4.6 billion per annum—has been protected within a ring-fence for the four years of the spending review. Separately, the spending review stated that the Department of Health will increase spending on health research in real terms, and we expect the Ministry of Defence research budget to increase in cash terms over the spending period. It is too early to tell what the implications of the spending review will mean for science spending in other departments.
On the part of the Question that deals with advice, the way in which independent institutions make decisions about increases or decreases in their level of research funding is a matter for those institutions.
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Asked by
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of government investment in science will be protected from cuts in public expenditure; and what advice they are giving to research institutions that are affected by any cuts.
Subjects
Finance; Research; Science
Date
22 December 2010
Reference
723 c1091
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
I thank my noble friend for his support and encouragement. Of course, the Haldane principle, which is already established, is very important to us.
On the announcements by my right honourable friend in another place, which he hopes and predicts he will be able to make, unfortunately I can say nothing about them at this stage. Like my noble friend, however, I hope that these investments will go ahead.
I thank my noble friend for his support and encouragement. Of course, the Haldane principle, which is already established, is very important to us.
On the announcements by my right honourable friend in another place, which he hopes and predicts he will be able to make, unfortunately I can say nothing about them at this stage. Like my noble friend, however, I hope that these investments will go ahead.
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Asked by
Lord Jenkin of Roding
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, I welcome my noble friend’s response on the Haldane principle, the restatement of which is a welcome clarification.
On capital spending, I applaud the continued investment in Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire and the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation in London. They are hugely important projects.
Mr Willetts’ statement refers to further decisions on capital projects of strategic importance. When can we expect those further decisions? They may be very important indeed.
Subjects
Finance; Research; Science
Date
22 December 2010
Reference
723 c1092
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
As I have already said, a large proportion has been protected in a ring-fence, and two of the biggest spending departments outside BIS, the Department of Health and the Ministry of Defence, are maintaining or increasing their research budgets. Other government departments have not yet decided their research budgets; for them, this question is a little premature. We will have to look at other areas such as capital funding, as we know, and no doubt I shall answer questions on them in a moment. They have been very well provided for over the past few years, and I am afraid that capital funding will have to wait until we get front-line science where it should be, in front of the rest of the world.
As I have already said, a large proportion has been protected in a ring-fence, and two of the biggest spending departments outside BIS, the Department of Health and the Ministry of Defence, are maintaining or increasing their research budgets. Other government departments have not yet decided their research budgets; for them, this question is a little premature. We will have to look at other areas such as capital funding, as we know, and no doubt I shall answer questions on them in a moment. They have been very well provided for over the past few years, and I am afraid that capital funding will have to wait until we get front-line science where it should be, in front of the rest of the world.
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Asked by
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
I thank the Minister for that reply, but does she acknowledge that only 50 per cent of recent government spending on science research falls within the protected budget, which the Government have heralded so much? Does she recognise that massive cuts are being predicted in departments such as DECC and Defra, as well as the £440 million by RDAs, which will be lost? At a time when our global competitors are increasing investment in R&D, what message does that send about our prospects for future economic growth?
Subjects
Finance; Research; Science
Date
22 December 2010
Reference
723 c1092
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
I thank my noble friend for that question. On how much of what we say applies to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, I can confirm that the research council fund across the United Kingdom is without geographical bias. My department works closely with the Governments and funding bodies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to come to these decisions. It seems a fair decision, and we have had a strong settlement. I think the science community is surprised by how well we have managed to do, given that when we came in we faced real financial problems. Science is so important to this country.
I thank my noble friend for that question. On how much of what we say applies to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, I can confirm that the research council fund across the United Kingdom is without geographical bias. My department works closely with the Governments and funding bodies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to come to these decisions. It seems a fair decision, and we have had a strong settlement. I think the science community is surprised by how well we have managed to do, given that when we came in we faced real financial problems. Science is so important to this country.
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Asked by
Lord Hunt of Wirral
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, will my noble friend accept from a former Cabinet Minister for Science and Technology how much she and her colleagues are to be congratulated on what is a strong settlement? Will she also recognise that on all sides of this House there is a positive commitment to the importance of the science budget? Can she share with us the figure for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Subjects
Finance; Research; Science
Date
22 December 2010
Reference
723 c1093
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, there are many areas in which we have had to make cuts. Let us face it; no Government want to come in and make cuts as soon as they get there. It is not a position that we wanted to be in but it is the position that we are in. There is no doubt, however, that the previous regime did wonderful things with science. We have a previous Science Minister here with us today. I acknowledge the work, time, commitment and money that he personally gave to science. That said, other parts of the Government frittered money away, and we are where we are.
My Lords, there are many areas in which we have had to make cuts. Let us face it; no Government want to come in and make cuts as soon as they get there. It is not a position that we wanted to be in but it is the position that we are in. There is no doubt, however, that the previous regime did wonderful things with science. We have a previous Science Minister here with us today. I acknowledge the work, time, commitment and money that he personally gave to science. That said, other parts of the Government frittered money away, and we are where we are.
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Asked by
Lord Peston
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Is the noble Baroness aware that one of the few areas in which our country remains world-class is that of fundamental research in the natural sciences? If there is one area that is in grave danger of being cut it is fundamental research in the natural sciences, revealing the total inadequacy of the Government’s approach to these matters.
Subjects
Finance; Research; Science
Date
22 December 2010
Reference
723 c1093-4
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of government investment in science will be protected from cuts in public expenditure; and what advice they are giving to research institutions that are affected by any cuts.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of government investment in science will be protected from cuts in public expenditure; and what advice they are giving to research institutions that are affected by any cuts.
Asked by
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
For answer on
22 December 2010
Answered on
22 December 2010
My Lords, within BIS, a substantial amount of funding for science and research programmes—£4.6 billion per annum—has been protected within a ring-fence for the four years of the spending review. Separately, the spending review stated that the Department of Health will increase spending on health research in real terms, and we expect the Ministry of Defence research budget to increase in cash terms over the spending period. It is too early to tell what the implications of the spending review will mean for science spending in other departments.
On the part of the Question that deals with advice, the way in which independent institutions make decisions about increases or decreases in their level of research funding is a matter for those institutions.
Subjects
Finance; Research; Science
Date
22 December 2010
Reference
723 c1091
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to develop scientific research in the United Kingdom.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to develop scientific research in the United Kingdom.
Asked by
Lord Taylor of Warwick
(Non-affiliated)
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
25 October 2010
The Government are committed to rebalancing the economy and ensuring economic growth. Science and research play vital roles in this area. The spending review has protected the budget for science and research programmes at £4.6 billion per annum, ring-fenced for the next four years. In the light of this excellent result the Government will allocate the budget, setting out strategic priorities. The research councils, funding councils and national academies will then make detailed funding decisions.
Subjects
Research; Science
Date
25 October 2010
Reference
2497; 721 c240WA
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the conclusion of Research Councils UK that a reduction of £1 billion in funding for research will lead to a fall of £10 billion in gross domestic product.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the conclusion of Research Councils UK that a reduction of £1 billion in funding for research will lead to a fall of £10 billion in gross domestic product.
Asked by
Lord Turnberg
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
21 October 2010
There is a substantial body of economic analysis that explores returns, both private and social, to R&D expenditure. This literature, which looks at different sectors, countries and time periods, invariably suggests strong returns to science funding, with social returns usually outstripping private. Recent work by Professor Jonathan Haskell (Imperial College) and Dr Graeme Wallis (HMT) reports strong growth returns to Research Council investment in the UK. Specific estimates of this type must be treated with considerable caution because of the complex methodological issues involved, but it is likely that the economic returns to UK science are strong. The BIS reporting system for the Research Councils explores the economic and research outcomes achieved by each of the councils, producing evidence supporting the link between science and growth. For that reason, the Government will continue to focus expenditure efforts on the UK's world-leading institutions that underpin interactions between science and business in the UK.
Subjects
Finance; Economic growth; Research; Science
Date
21 October 2010
Reference
2747; 721 c200WA
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of United Kingdom science on the United Kingdom economy in each of the past five years.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of United Kingdom science on the United Kingdom economy in each of the past five years.
Asked by
Lord Willis of Knaresborough
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
18 October 2010
Her Majesty's Government have provided regular assessments of the impact of the science on the United Kingdom economy through its annual reports on the Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-14.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has published the Economic Impact Reporting Framework in each of the past five years. Research councils have separately, for the past three years, published their economic baselines in each of the past three years.
There is a wide range of historical and econometric evidence that supports the view that science, and R&D more generally, are central to productivity growth. Precise estimates should be treated with caution because of the complex methodological and data issues involved.
Subjects
Economic situation; Science
Date
18 October 2010
Reference
2341; 721 c127-8WA
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the total public sector investment in United Kingdom science as a percentage of gross domestic product in each of the past five years; and how this compares with other G7 countries.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the total public sector investment in United Kingdom science as a percentage of gross domestic product in each of the past five years; and how this compares with other G7 countries.
Asked by
Lord Willis of Knaresborough
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
18 October 2010
International comparisons of science and technology indicators are drawn from the OECD's Main Science and Technology (MSTI) Database. This is one of the most comprehensive and reliable sources of internationally comparable research indicators drawn from the respective country's statistical office.
Public spending on research and development (R&D) is best illustrated through Total Government Budget Appropriations or Outlays for Research and Development (GBAORD). Government Expenditure in Research and Development (GOVERD) was not used as this measures actual expenditure following accounting arrangements in the respective country, which are not harmonised across the OECD and may therefore limit comparability.
Table 1 below shows that the UK's GBAORD as a proportion of GDP declined year on year from 0.69 per cent in 2004 to 0.60 per cent in 2008, the most recent year for which data are available.
The OECD data further reveals that in 2008 the UK spent the least on GBAORD as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) of any G7 country (n.b. 2008 data for Canada are not available).
"Source: BIS calculations based upon OECD Main Science and Technology Indicators"
| Table 1. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GBAORD as a percentage of GDP | ||||||
| Country | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Canada | 0.59% | 0.60% | 0.57% | 0.60% | ||
| France | 0.96% | 0.97% | 0.79% | 0.73% | 0.72% | |
| Germany | 0.77% | 0.77% | 0.74% | 0.75% | 0.76% | 0.82% |
| Italy | 0.67% | 0.60% | 0.63% | 0.61% | 0.60% | |
| Japan | 0.72% | 0.71% | 0.71% | 0.68% | 0.71% | 0.75% |
| United Kingdom | 0.69% | 0.67% | 0.65% | 0.64% | 0.60% | |
| United States | 1.07% | 1.04% | 1.02% | 1.01% | 1.01% | 1.18% |
Subjects
Finance; Science
Date
18 October 2010
Reference
2342; 721 c128WA
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on United Kingdom science and engineering of the expenditure reductions announced in the recent Budget.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on United Kingdom science and engineering of the expenditure reductions announced in the recent Budget.
Asked by
Lord Willis of Knaresborough
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
27 September 2010
No assessment has been made. Budgets for future years will be decided this autumn as part of the spending review.
Notes
Answer received between Thursday 29 July and Monday 2 August 2010.
Subjects
Engineering; Public expenditure; Science; Cuts
Date
27 September 2010
Reference
1647; 720 c422WA
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many science, engineering or mathematics PhD places they will fund from Higher Education Funding Council for England or Research Council grants.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many science, engineering or mathematics PhD places they will fund from Higher Education Funding Council for England or Research Council grants.
Asked by
Lord Willis of Knaresborough
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Baroness Wilcox
(Conservative)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
28 July 2010
The Research Councils estimate they will fund a total of 5,371 new PhD students in 2010-11 in the UK. Research conducted by some of these students will fall outside science, engineering or maths. The expected number of PhD starters for each Research Council is shown in Table 1.
HEFCE does not fund PhD studentships but does support the costs of their supervision. The 2008-09 HESA Student Record was used to model numbers of full and part-time first-year PhD students at English universities who were eligible for HEFCE contributions to the cost of supervision. The total number in the 2010-11 HEFCE funding allocation—therefore students who started in 2009-10—is estimated to be 11,900. Of these, 6,000 are estimated to be science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) students in line with HECFE’s definition of STEM subjects. HEFCE does not have data for students starting in 2010-11.
It is important to note that Research Council funding covers the whole of the UK and HEFCE contributes to supervision costs of eligible PhD students at English universities only, including those students funded by bodies other than the Research Councils. As such, the two sets of data are not directly comparable.
| Table 1: | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Council | AHRC | BBSRC | EPSRC | ESRC | MRC | NERC | STFC |
| Estimated PhD Starters in 2010/11 | 710 | 525 | 2526 | 670 | 400 | 300 | 240 |
Subjects
Finance; Engineering; Higher Education Funding Council for England; Science; Mathematics; Postgraduate education; Research councils
Date
28 July 2010
Reference
1646; 720 c377-8WA
House
House of Lords