Prime Minister's response to recent CST letters
Published 30 November 2021
© Crown copyright 2021
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prime-ministers-response-to-cst-letters/prime-ministers-response-to-recent-cst-letters
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA
23 September 2021
THE PRIME MINISTER
Dear Patrick and John,
Thank you for your letters of 14 June setting out your recommendations on how to strengthen the UK’s position as a science superpower, improve our capacity to innovate, scale up applications with commercial and societal value and level up capacity across the UK. It was fantastic to meet you on 1 July to go through these in detail.
I want the UK to cement its status as a science superpower and, in so doing, level up right across the country. Our UK Innovation Strategy outlines the importance of research and innovation to levelling up, and the Government’s commitment to ensuring that R&D benefits the economy and society across the UK.
As you know, science is a collective endeavour that bring together a wide range of policies, from skills and regeneration to innovation and infrastructure, all of which will be crucial to our economic recovery from the pandemic and our long-term prosperity. Your advice will continue to be invaluable as we look to boost the UK’s reputation in science. The Levelling Up White Paper scheduled for later this year will also play a critical role in setting out how R&D, combined with skills, infrastructure, business support and regeneration, can improve living standards, grow the private sector and increase and spread opportunity.
Thank you once again for writing, and I look forward to further advice and meetings with the Council for Science and Technology.
Yours,
Boris
Sir Patrick Vallance
Lord Browne of Madingley