Research and innovation

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on research, development and innovation. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Research Papers

DateDescription
09.03.2007The Statistics and Registration Service Bill, Committee Stage Report
The Statistics and Registration Service Bill, Committee Stage Report. House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/25
10.01.2007Social Indicators
Social indicators. [Includes articles on Research and Development in the UK and Prison Population. Also includes topical subject page on The Weather] House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/02.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
07.09.2011Strategically important metals.
Government response. Science and Technology Select Committee; Department for Business, Innovation and Skills report [Commons]
07.09.2011UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation.
Government response. Science and Technology Select Committee; Department for Business, Innovation and Skills report [Commons]
18.07.2011Peer review in scientific publication.
Science and Technology Select Committee report [Commons]
17.05.2011Public procurement as a tool to stimulate innovation.
Science and Technology Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
04.05.2011Strategically important metals.
Science and Technology Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
11.01.2012WIDE MINDS NETWORK
That this House congratulates the work of Wide Minds, or WiMi, a network that acts as a forum for innovation and best practice in digital learning; notes that WiMi has a presence in ...
08.12.2011AMERICIUM-241
That this House notes that Americium-241 is a by-product of nuclear power stations such as those in Heysham; further notes that the University of Leicester is now developing radio isotope ...
09.11.2011ANTIBIOTIC ACTION INITIATIVE
That this House notes the importance of the aims of the Antibiotic Action Initiative of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy that is examining ways to encourage the discovery, ...
19.10.2011IMPLEMENTATION OF BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS COMMITTEE REPORT ON PUB COMPANIES
That this House welcomes the finalreport by the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee on Pub Companies (Tenth Report of Session 2010-12, HC 1369-I), which found that industry self-regulation ...
14.07.2011SPACE SCIENCE CONTRIBUTION TO THE BRITISH ECONOMY
That this House notes that space science and exploration, an area of world leadership in the UK's science base, has delivered significant long-term economic benefits, in addition to ...

Lords Library Notes

DateDescription
12.07.2013Debate on 18 July: Role of Government in Generating Economic Prosperity and Employment
This Note outlines recent data on the performance of the UK economy, announcements by the Government for capital spending, spending on research and development and action to help businesses gain access to funding. It also looks at proposals for the Government to take more of a role in managing growth, in particular whether the UK needs a more coherent and long-term industrial strategy.
15.10.2012Debate on 18 October: Scott Expedition to Antarctica and Scientific Legacy
This Library Note provides background reading for the debate to be held on Thursday, 18 October: 'the centenary of the Scott Expedition to Antarctica and of the United Kingdom's enduring scientific legacy and ongoing presence there'.

POST Papers

DateDescription
18.03.2013Preventing Mitochondrial Disease
This note describes new treatments designed to prevent mothers with mitochondrial disease passing their condition on to their children and looks at the issues raised by their potential use in IVF.
10.09.2012Advanced Manufacturing
Advanced manufacturing is a key part of the Government's 'Plan for Growth'. This POSTnote looks at the opportunities for growth through advanced manufacturing and related new business models. Policy initiatives to encourage advanced manufacturing, barriers to its adoption and the skills required for the advanced manufacturing workforce are also considered.
15.03.2012Personalised Cancer Treatments
Recent technological advances in both diagnostics and therapeutics have the potential to make the treatment of cancer more personalised.
03.02.2012Biomedical Patents
This POSTnote considers how patent law is applied to biomedical inventions and examines the potential impact on patient access to diagnostic tests and innovation.
25.01.2012Open Access to Scientific Information
The internet has transformed the nature of scientific research, opening up new ways to collect, use and disseminate scientific information. This has led to increased demand for access to such information. Open Access (OA) to scientific journal publications means making them freely available online, rather than charging readers to view them. OA to research data means making research data more widely available for re-use by others to support research, innovation and wider public use.
03.10.2011Clinical Trials
This POSTnote summarises some of the most important reasons behind the decline in clinical trials in the UK, and the actions being taken to improve the situation.

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - papers compiled by the House of Lords Library on Bills and for debates in the Lords