The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee today invites
contributions to its new inquiry - Life Sciences and the
Industrial Strategy.
The Government set out in its Industrial Strategy
Green Paper its intention to create a new Life Sciences strategy
to make the UK the best place in the world to invest in life
sciences. To tackle challenges like cancer and dementia it is
important that the UK has a strong life sciences sector. But the
sector faces a number of challenges and opportunities, including
Brexit and making innovative new treatments available on the
NHS.
This inquiry will investigate issues such as
whether the Government has the necessary structures in place to
support the life sciences sector; how the NHS can use
procurement to stimulate innovation in the life sciences; and the
content of the new Life Sciences industrial strategy, when
published.
Questions which the inquiry will aim to
cover:
-
What can be learnt from the impact of the 2011 UK
Life Sciences Strategy and how can the success of the new
strategy be measured against its stated
objectives?
-
Can public procurement, in particular by the NHS,
be an effective stimulus for innovation in the Life Sciences
Sector?
-
Who should take responsibility for the
implementation of the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy and to
whom should they be accountable?
-
How should the regulatory framework be changed or
improved after Brexit to support the sector?
-
Should the Government appoint a dedicated Life
Sciences Minister?
Committee Chairman, ,
said:
“According to one
analysis, the UK life sciences sector contributed
£30.7bn to the economy in 2015 and supports over 480,000 jobs.
While it is high-tech, research-intensive and innovative it can
only remain this way if it has the correct leadership and is
properly funded. Furthermore, compared to other countries the UK
is behind when it comes to investment and
innovation.
"The inquiry is an opportunity to learn from the
successes and failures of the Government’s 2011 Life Sciences
Strategy, in order to properly inform its new strategy. This is
expected to be published during the period in which this call for
evidence is open and the Committee welcome the views of
respondents on its contents, as well as the sector as a
whole.”
The Committee is inviting
written evidence on the issue, to be received by Friday 15
September.
