Innovation: Livingston

Science, Innovation and Technology – in the House of Commons am ar 12 Chwefror 2025.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Gregor Poynton Gregor Poynton Llafur, Livingston

What steps his Department is taking to support innovation in Livingston Constituency.

Photo of Chris Bryant Chris Bryant The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

We have already spent £4 million on projects in my hon. Friend’s Constituency, including £88,000 on SilviBio Ltd. I am very proud of the fact that we have been able to commit, in 2025-26, to a record amount of money—£20.4 billion—for research and development.

Photo of Gregor Poynton Gregor Poynton Llafur, Livingston

I thank the Minister for that answer. In the Livingston Constituency, we have a number of fantastic biotech and life sciences businesses, such as Valneva, which is working on a range of vaccines, including for malaria, and as the Minister mentioned, SilviBio, which is working on sustainable alternatives to peat. Given the failure and neglect of the Conservative Government and the SNP Scottish Government in this regard, what conversations is he having with the Scottish Government to ensure that we create an environment in which the biotech and life sciences industry can thrive in the Livingston constituency and across Scotland?

Photo of Chris Bryant Chris Bryant The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Livingston is a remarkable example of where investment can make a significant difference. I am really pleased that the chief executive of SilviBio recently received a women in innovation award for innovation in science. My hon. Friend is absolutely right that innovation accelerator projects in Glasgow and across the whole of Scotland need the integration between the Westminster Government and the Holyrood Government to be really successful, but that is precisely what we are determined to do. In October last year, he also had another £4 million investment in Livingston by Merck, making it one of the biggest investors in Scotland.

constituency

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Minister

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