Speeches by Race.

“A final question for me is on consistency in transparency. Vinous, consistency is probably key to start-ups and scale-ups understanding what they are supposed to be doing. Where do you think that the Government can come in to avoid unnecessary complexity and to give people a clear steer on what they are supposed to be …”

“The consultation says that some R&D funding might be made available to support new tools to encourage greater transparency. Do you think that is necessary? Do you think that is a necessary part of what might be a new ecosystem, or do you feel like you are doing it already and that that is unnecessary, and that there is…”

“If I am right, your company, James, might be one of the tools that would help start-ups and scale-ups to comply with any new transparency requirements. Is that right?”

“James do you have anything to add on that?”

“I note for the record that the Startup Coalition provides the secretariat for the ClimateTech APPG, which I chair. I want to move on to the transparency of inputs and outputs. The UK wants to see ever more start-ups setting up and then scaling up, leading on AI but also utilising AI for new and exciting businesses. Vin…”

“8. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK in attracting international investment.”

“I will make some progress, if I may. I am pleased that this Government have legislated to allow the use of the veteran’s ID card, and I ask that they look at a wider range of suitable ID, including train driver licences, in any future review. Preferably, though, we should return to the traditional British approach of n…”

“It is not that it is okay, but we have introduced legislation that has essentially restricted many, many more people from voting than otherwise would have happened.”

“As has already been pointed out, the level of voter fraud in this country was minuscule—”

“I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. As I was about to say, whether it be the inequity of allowing the older person’s bus pass to be used as ID but not the young person’s bus pass, or leaving out entirely the ability to use a veteran’s ID card or a train driver’s licence, the Act was largely unnecessary and introduc…”

“I will be very brief in so as not to repeat the arguments that have already been made in such a good style by hon. Members across the House. I too wish to take this opportunity to put on record my support for electoral reform, to ensure that the composition of our representatives better reflects the wishes of voters an…”

“The south-west is home to an incredibly important economy based on defence, food security, space, maritime, and, in Exeter, life sciences and climate tech and research. We are also home to huge green energy potential, utilising floating offshore wind. However, we currently need investment in our port facilities so that…”

“Will the Secretary join me in commending the citizen scientists and local campaign groups that have driven many of these issues right up the political agenda, including the Friends of the River Exe in Exeter? I am delighted that this Government have acted so quickly to hold the water companies to account for the sewage…”

“On your own phone, yes, exactly. Thank you. Just a final question from me. You lead a master class for Ministers, I believe. What is the most important lesson that you think politicians, Ministers and people such as us can learn about science, from your perspective?”

“I just want to touch on public trust. You have touched on it already about bringing people with us. It is incredibly important that we bring people along with us in terms of both scientific advances and support for spending, which remains high at the moment, which is good. As to actual deployment of technology like vac…”

“Just a final point on that scale-up financing, I think I am right in saying that you are more likely to get foreign direct investment through venture capital and private equity into the regions than you are UK-based, which is really interesting—from America and elsewhere. They are more interested in the regions.”

“The south-west is only two hours away.”

“They are quicker.”

“You have mentioned the Met Office already, which is based in Exeter, and we have the University of Exeter, and they work very closely together. We have a great spin-out culture developing because of that. Your letter did not reference regional scale-up funding and financing. According to the BVCA, the south-west in tot…”

“I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s visit to a malnutrition clinic on the border of Chad and Sudan and the additional funding for the region. Sudan has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in the world. He says he has had discussions with regional actors, but can he go further and update us on where those discussions…”