HearFromYourMP

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• Posted by Andy Saul, 09:52, Tue 6 July 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #

  In your Oral Questions on Business, Innovation and Skills question, will you support the Campaign for Science and Engineering and make the case for investment in our technology industries?

  http://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/

• Posted by Dave Lloyd, 10:36, Tue 6 July 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #

  (1) Why has the coalition decided not to support the computer games industry? This country has lost considerable talent as well as major revenue generating studios to Canada and other regimes where tax breaks are offered. The games industry is no longer a "dirty secret" but one of the most advanced hi tech areas of software engineering as well as a vital convergence between arts and technology.

• Posted by Dave Lloyd, 10:39, Tue 6 July 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #

  (2) Why does the new government decline to support the East of England. Cambridge and the surrounding Silicon Fen had the chance in the 90s to compete with Silicon Valley but apparently we're too successful and have been denied much startup and grant funding ever since. While it is sensible to try and repeat the success elsewhere, surely the government should build on established success and continue support the region where it is known to work.

• Posted by Katie Symons, 12:23, Tue 6 July 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #

  Hi Julian,

  Perhaps you could ask how the government plans to encourage students (school and university) to consider a career in engineering, given the amount of infrastructure that will need to be built in the UK soon (power facilities, both renewable and nuclear, transport links etc) and to make sure we still have a manufacturing industry in this country.

• Posted by Rachel Coleman Finch, 13:27, Tue 6 July 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #

  Hi Julian,

  What about asking whether the money the government currently spends subsidising and promoting the UK arms industry could be put to more productive use.

  Rachel

• Posted by dave ousby, 06:29, Wed 7 July 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #

  Hi Julian

  We would like to know if there will be a scheme to replace the Future Jobs Fund? This scheme, aimed at under 25 yr olds unemployed for six months or more, has been incredibly successful for both those employed by it and the organisations they have been working for in the third sector across the region. We have had three project workers from this scheme and would welcome it's extension so that we can help train these people up with the basic skills and qualifications needed to get a job.

• Posted by Douglas Smith, 10:24, Wed 7 July 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #

  Hello Julian and thanks for asking. As even these few comments show, there are agendas and there are agendas. And it's hard to choose between them as they are all relevant. But perhaps instead of asking on a specific subtopic, why not question the big picture (or lack of one).

  In essence, where is the vision and the blueprint (including funding programs) that we need to develop the new and much needed technologies that will not only stimulate job growth, but which will also create a new era of world leadership for Britain?

  In the early 1990's, Finland invested heavily into wireless technologies. Nokia received substantial tax benefits in its early days as dis many wireless startups. The government even gave start loans equal to one years income in some cases to spark a massive economic revolution that prevented the country from sliding into a depression after the lost of their export trade to Russia.

  Britain needs to put some stakes in the ground vision wise and decide on the economic cornerstones of the future. We cannot rely on Finance and Services. Automotive is dead for us unless we reinvent it locally. And Copyright based industries are shifting so fast that their future viability is in grave doubt. We need instead to create original and global technology leadership in key focused sectors to foster an entirely new era of growth for Britain.

  I for one, believe we are in a global race to create truly commercially viable green technologies such as alternative fuels, as well as to create much needed nano-technologies to fund the new health and production solutions. I for one also believe that with the advent of 3D printers and multi-functional factories, we could in effect, move production of most goods locally into regional microfactories, which would generate massive jobs throughout the nation and reduce our reliance on transport intensive production and outsourcing to China. These are areas where we could and should excel in as a nation. After the BP fiasco that is starting to look near cataclysmic in scope, we urgently need to stop all subsidies to Big Oil and shift that money into finding alternatives.

  So why not propose a 10 million X-Prize sponsored by the government for cracking key problems related to things like Fuel Cells and mass Hydrogen fueling networks and technologies.

  Branson's X-Prize resulted in the formation of a new space industry. So we know that this approach works better than straight funding schemes. Makes people work harder!

  As a scientist yourself, it makes good sense for you to put your own stake in the ground on these topics and organise movement and leadership to make them happen. I wish you good luck and will follow on Twitter.

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