Fourth Report - Legacy – Parliament 2019–24

Select Committee

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee HC 826 29 May 2024

Report Status Response overdue

Conclusions & Recommendations 16 items (14 recs)

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Recommendations

14 results

1

Para 35

Provide funding for diagnostic facilities and ensure focus on multiple vaccine technologies for pandemics

Recommendation

Should our successor Committee wish to further explore emerging diseases and learnings from covid-19, we recommend: • Funding should be made available for diagnostic facilities to uphold contracts, maintain equipment, and run laboratories to allow for fast and accurate diagnoses … Read more

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

2

Recommend a trial of a centralised Secure Data Environment and simplify ethical governance

Recommendation

Should our successor Committee wish to explore the reform of the UK health data strategy, we recommend it considers: • Investigating the replication of the academic model of open and competitive funding to solve problems and develop Privacy Enhancing technologies … Read more Should our successor Committee wish to explore the reform of the UK health data strategy, we recommend it considers: • Investigating the replication of the academic model of open and competitive funding to solve problems and develop Privacy Enhancing technologies (PETs) and other critical pieces of data infrastructure as an alternative to internal or contracted software development work; • Recommending a trial comprising an over-resourced, centralised SDE covering a smaller number of trusts to build working templates, develop a skilled workforce and prove the security and privacy approaches to the public and industry. This would aid in obtaining widespread public support by swiftly demonstrating the viability and utility of the SDE model, supporting the success of further projects; • Recommending the implementation of a technical solution for the public to opt back into data sharing, and a targeted campaign to encourage those who have previously opted out to reconsider sharing their health data, now that data protection regulation and technologies have improved and tangible public benefits can be realised; • Recommending the consolidation of the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) into the NHS SDE as soon as the latter meets all reasonable user needs, as the CPRD currently provides access to NHS data circumventing the protections of a TRE with significant overlap in functionality and replication of effort; • Recommending the simplification of ethical governance structures to avoid duplication and excessive overlap, and publishing an overview of this system so that all actors know where to obtain guidance; • Investigating the establishment of a single organisation solely responsible for delivering data architecture for public projects. This would assume centralised 72 Legacy – Parliament 2019–24 responsibility for the ongoing data projects by NHS England and other government entities, removing the fragmentation of skills across different bodies and facilitatin Show less

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

3

Examine powers of UK regulators and case for AI-specific legislation in AI governance

Recommendation

Should our successor Committee wish to examine the governance of AI, we recommend it considers: • The powers, coordination mechanisms and capacity of UK regulators to respond to the growing prevalence of AI in their sectors; Legacy – Parliament 2019–24 … Read more

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

4

Scrutinise Government's comprehensive approach to critical national infrastructure cyber security and resilience.

Recommendation

Should our successor Committee wish to examine the cyber security and resilience of the UK’s critical national infrastructure, we recommend it considers: • Following up how the Government is monitoring the emerging threats from nation states, state-sponsored actors, and criminal … Read more

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

5

Para 88

Scrutinise Government's hydrogen deployment decisions and progress towards net zero targets.

Recommendation

Should our successor Committee wish to examine the role of hydrogen in achieving net zero, we recommend it considers: • Scrutinising Government decision-making relating to the deployment of hydrogen ahead of 2030; • Examining findings from trials of hydrogen in … Read more

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

6

Examine Government's progress and strategy for delivering new nuclear power infrastructure.

Recommendation

Should our successor Committee wish to examine the Government’s approach to delivering new nuclear, we recommend it considers: • Examining what progress has been made towards the Government reaching FID for two new nuclear plants by the end of the … Read more

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

7

Para 123

Monitor MHRA's progress on regulating bacteriophages and supporting research infrastructure.

Recommendation

Should our successor Committee wish to consider the antimicrobial potential of bacteriophages, we recommend: • Seeking updates on whether the MHRA has produced guidance relating to the data that would be required to evaluate applications for clinical trials and licensed … Read more

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

8

Para 138

Expand government support for fungal research, conservation, and legislative scope.

Recommendation

Should our successor Committee wish to examine the Government’s approach to fungal research, we recommend it considers: • How the Government and UK Research and Innovation can support research into the antifungal resistance in the environment, animals, and humans, to … Read more

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

9

Strengthen government strategies for addressing insect decline and ensuring UK food security.

Recommendation

Should our successor Committee wish to examine the Government’s approach to insect decline and UK food security, we recommend: 76 Legacy – Parliament 2019–24 • Examining the Government and its agencies’ strategies for sustaining long- term insect monitoring research and … Read more

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

10

Para 162

Examine government and UKRI efforts to enhance diversity and inclusion in STEM.

Recommendation

Should our successor Committee wish to consider levels of diversity and inclusion in STEM, we recommend it considers: • Examining whether the trends in STEM education, particularly in subject uptake and attainment, as well as the delivery of STEM curriculum … Read more

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

11

Establish a coherent system to commercialise research and increase public R&D investment.

Recommendation

Should our successor Committee wish to further explore the commercialisation of research, we recommend it considers: • recommending the establishment of a coherent system to facilitate interactions between businesses and research and technology organisations to make support for business more … Read more

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

14

Para 207

Recommend successor Committee examine 5G Supply Chain Diversification, international standards, and technology rollout.

Recommendation

Should our successor Committee wish to examine the UK’s telecommunications infrastructure and domestic capability, we recommend it considers: • The implementation of the 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy, and relevant policy and technical developments since the then Committee’s report; • … Read more

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

15

Recommend successor Committee examine blockchain technology use cases, risks, and regulatory environment.

Recommendation

Should our successor Committee wish to examine blockchain technology, we recommend that it examines in greater depth potential use cases in the public and private sectors; including the benefits, risks, potential opportunities, regulatory environment and public understanding about the technology. … Read more

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

16

Recommend successor Committee scrutinise National Quantum Strategy, commercialisation, skills, and Horizon Europe access.

Recommendation

Should our successor Committee wish to examine quantum technologies, we recommend it considers: • Scrutinising how the Government is achieving the aims and objectives set out in the National Quantum Strategy and its associated Missions; • Examining how the Government … Read more

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Conclusions (2) Observations and findings — click to expand

12 Conclusion

Para 191

Should our successor Committee wish to examine UK space policy, it should consider: • Scrutinising the ongoing implementation of the spaceflight regulations and their impact on the success of the UK’s small satellite launch sector; • Exploring the progress made on the ten points set out in the Position, Navigation …

13 Conclusion

Should our successor Committee wish to consider UK astronomy, it could: • Consider whether funding timeframes for astronomy strategies, programmes and infrastructure need to be lengthened and if astronomy needs a single voice rather than a split between the Science and Technology Facilities Council and the UK Space Agency; • …