Science and Technology Committee: Formal Minutes 2019–21 1 Formal Minutes of the Science and Technology Committee Wednesday 4 March 2020 Members present: Greg Clark, in the Chair Aaron Bell Mark Logan Chris Clarkson Carol Monaghan Katherine Fletcher Graham Stringer Andrew Griffith Zarah Sultana Darren Jones 1. Declarations of interest Members declared their interests, in accordance with the resolution of the House of 13 July 1992. (For details of declaration of interests, see Appendix.) 2. An introduction to Research and Innovation Policy The Committee considered this matter. 3. Confidentiality and Privilege The Committee considered this matter. 4. Committee working practices Resolved, That the Committee examine witnesses in public, except where it otherwise orders. Resolved, That the witnesses who submit written evidence to the Committee are authorised to publish it on their own account in accordance with Standing Order No. 135, subject always to the discretion of the Chair or where the Committee orders otherwise. Resolved, That the Committee shall not consider individual cases. Resolved, That the following matters be delegated to the Chair: • Agreeing the circulated agenda for Committee meetings; • Engaging in correspondence on Committee matters which is not sufficiently significant to require approval by the Committee or is of a routine nature; • Arranging informal meetings in Westminster on matters relating to the Committee’s remit; • Authorising the issue of press notices about forthcoming evidence sessions, new inquiries and Reports; 2 Science and Technology: Formal Minutes 2019–21 • Subject to a degree of prior negotiation, proposing Reports to the Liaison Committee for debate in Westminster Hall; and • Taking decisions which are consequential on matters already decided by the Committee or which are urgent. Resolved, That in the 2019–21 session, where the Committee receives evidence, or sends or receives correspondence which, in the Chair’s judgement, merits publication by the Committee before it will meet again, the Chair shall have discretion to report it to the House for publication, provided that i) the evidence or correspondence concerned shall have been circulated to the Committee and ii) all members shall have been given the opportunity to object to such publication before it takes place. 5. Standards of Service The Committee considered this matter. 6. Future Programme Resolved, That the Committee take evidence on Budget 2020: research and innovation spending. Resolved, That the Committee take evidence on the COVID-19 outbreak, subject to the Chair’s discussions with the Government Chief Scientific Adviser. [Adjourned till Tuesday 10 March at 9.00 am Science and Technology Committee: Formal Minutes 2019–21 3 Tuesday 10 March 2020 Members present: Greg Clark, in the Chair Aaron Bell Mark Logan Chris Clarkson Carol Monaghan Katherine Fletcher Graham Stringer Andrew Griffith Zarah Sultana Darren Jones Dr Luke Evans and James Murray also attended under the provisions of paragraph (1)(e) of Standing Order No 137A (Select committees: power to work with other committees). 1. Health and Social Care Committee Resolved, That members of the Health and Social Care Committee be invited to attend the meeting today relating to the COVID-19 outbreak, pursuant to Standing Order No 137A(1)(e). 2. COVID-19 outbreak The Committee considered this matter. [Adjourned till Thursday 12 March at 9.00 am Thursday 12 March 2020 Members present: Greg Clark, in the Chair Aaron Bell Graham Stringer Mark Logan 1. Commercial Genomics The Committee considered this matter. 2. Evidence reported for publication Ordered, That the following written evidence be reported to the House for publication: Commercial genomics Correspondence from 23andMe (dated 14 January) 4 Science and Technology: Formal Minutes 2019–21 Correspondence from DNAfit (dated 21 November 2019) Correspondence from Ancestry (dated 12 December 2019) Correspondence from Baroness Blackwood, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Innovation (Lords) (dated 28 January) Clinical trials transparency Correspondence from Dr Till Bruckner (dated 30 January) Correspondence from Whittington Health NHS Trust Correspondence from University of Exeter and the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (dated November 2019) Correspondence from Baroness Blackwood, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Innovation (dated 22 January) Correspondence from the European Medicines Agency (dated 21 January) Correspondence from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (dated 20 January) Correspondence from the Health Research Authority (dated 4 March) Japanese Knotweed Correspondence from The Law Society (dated December 2019) Correspondence from Network Rail (dated 26 February) Correspondence from Advanced Invasives (dated 20 February) Commercial and recreational drone use in the UK Correspondence from Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (dated 10 February) Work of the Science Minister Correspondence from Rt Hon Chris Skidmore MP, Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, to the Committee (dated 10 February) Research Integrity Committee Correspondence from Sir Mark Walport, Chief Executive, UK Research and Innovation (dated 11 February) Innovate UK assessors Correspondence from Louisa Simons, Chief Operating Office Innovate UK (dated 14 January) [Adjourned till Wednesday 18 March at 9.00 am. Science and Technology Committee: Formal Minutes 2019–21 5 Wednesday 18 March 2020 Members present: Greg Clark, in the Chair Aaron Bell Graham Stringer Mark Logan Zarah Sultana 1. Declarations of interest Graham Stringer amended his declaration of interest of 4 March 2019 (For details, see appendix.) 2. Budget 2020: Research and Innovation spending Harriet Wallace, Director, International Research and Innovation, and Alexandra Jones, Director of Science Research and Innovation, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Professor Sir Mark Walport, Chief Executive, and Sir John Kingman, Chair, UK Research and Innovation, gave oral evidence. Dr Rupert Lewis, Chief Science Policy Officer, The Royal Society, and Tim Figures, Director, Technology, Sustainability and Innovation, Make UK, gave oral evidence. 3. Commercial Genomics Resolved, That the Committee inquire into Commercial Genomics Ordered, That Professor Frances Flinter be appointed Specialist Adviser to assist the Committee in matters related to Commercial genomics. (For details of declarations of interests, see Appendix). 4. UK science, research and technology capability and influence in global disease outbreaks Resolved, That the Committee inquire into UK science, research and technology capability and influence in global disease outbreaks. [Adjourned till Wednesday 25 March at 10.15 am. Wednesday 25 March 2020 Members present: Greg Clark, in the Chair Aaron Bell Mark Logan Chris Clarkson Zarah Sultana Katherine Fletcher 1. New research funding agency Resolved, that the Committee inquire into the New research funding agency. 6 Science and Technology: Formal Minutes 2019–21 2. UK telecommunications infrastructure and the UK’s domestic capability Resolved, that the Committee inquire into UK telecommunications infrastructure and the UK’s domestic capability. 3. UK science, research and technology capability and influence in global disease outbreaks Professor Neil Ferguson, Director, Medical Research Council Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London, gave oral evidence. Dr Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief, The Lancet, gave oral evidence. Professor Andrew Pollard, Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity at the University of Oxford, and Dr Melanie Saville, Director, Vaccine Research and Development, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, gave oral evidence. Sir Patrick Vallance, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, gave oral evidence. Professor Sharon Peacock, Director, National Infection Service, Public Health England, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Wednesday 22 April at 9.00am. 2 April 2020 Evidence reported to the House for publication on 2 April 2020 (Order of the Committee, 4 March 2020): UK science, research and technology capability and influence in global disease outbreaks: - Correspondence with Sir Patrick Vallance, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, and Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer, relating to the composition of SAGE and sub-groups informing the Government response to COVID-19, dated 30 March 2020. - Correspondence with Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, relating to COVID-19 vaccinations, dated 30 March 2020 - Correspondence with Professor Sharon Peacock, Public Health England, relating to evidence behind COVID-19 testing strategy. Science and Technology Committee: Formal Minutes 2019–21 7 Wednesday 8 April 2020 Virtual meeting Members present: Greg Clark, in the Chair Aaron Bell Mark Logan Chris Clarkson Carol Monaghan Katherine Fletcher Graham Stringer Andrew Griffith Zarah Sultana Darren Jones Jeremy Hunt also attended under the provisions of paragraph (1)(e) of Standing Order No 137A (Select committees: power to work with other committees). 1. UK science, research and technology capability and influence in global disease outbreaks Resolved, That Jeremy Hunt of the Health and Social Care Committee be invited to attend the meeting today relating to UK science, research and technology capability and influence in global disease outbreaks, pursuant to Standing Order No 137A(1)(e) (Select