Latest news with #DepartmentforScience
South Wales Guardian
22-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Call for faster progress on rural broadband in Caerfyrddin
Ann Davies, MP for Caerfyrddin, met with Sir Chris Bryant, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), to discuss rural broadband and mobile coverage earlier this month. The meeting, held in Westminster, was also attended by senior officials from DSIT and Building Digital UK (BDUK). These are the executive agencies delivering the government's major digital infrastructure programmes, including Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network. Project Gigabit aims to provide gigabit-capable broadband to hard-to-reach areas, while the Shared Rural Network is designed to improve 4G mobile coverage in rural and remote communities. Around 3 per cent of the Caerfyrddin constituency remains in 'not spot' areas where no broadband is currently available. Ms Davies said: "Reliable broadband and mobile coverage are not luxuries — they are essential services that rural communities rely on to live, work, and thrive. "Whether it's running a farm, studying from home, or accessing vital healthcare, people in Caerfyrddin must not be left behind." "I will continue working to ensure that the voices and concerns of our rural communities are heard loud and clear in Westminster." She remains in regular contact with Openreach, who keep her updated on local infrastructure progress, and she frequently meets with Carmarthenshire County Council's broadband development officer to ensure residents' concerns are heard and acted upon.
Rhyl Journal
20-05-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Vaccine maker's £1bn UK investment to create ‘hundreds of high-skilled jobs'
Biopharmaceutical company BioNTech has announced funding of up to £1 billion into the UK over the next 10 years. The planned investment would be one of the biggest in the history of UK life sciences, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said. As part of plans to increase its UK presence, the vaccine maker will create two new research and development hubs – one in Cambridge, and an AI hub at its planned UK headquarters in London. The centres could create more than 400 new jobs over the next 10 years including researchers in clinical and scientific drug development. As part of the agreement, the Government will contribute up to £129 million over the same period. German-based BioNTech developed mRNA vaccines and cancer immunotherapies, notably used to tackle Covid-19. Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said the investment would boost the economy. 'This investment will propel the growth-driving life sciences sector to new heights, delivering cutting-edge facilities, building careers in the future-facing jobs we want our children to have, and ultimately unlocking progress in medical science that could save lives,' he said. 'This is a clear indication of how we will deliver the Government's Plan for Change: working together with the best and brightest businesses and innovators to unlock their potential, and then reap the benefits for the economy, health and more that their drive and genius can deliver.' Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'This is another testament to confidence in Britain being one of the world's top investment destinations and a global hub for life sciences. 'It will create hundreds of high-skilled, well-paid jobs, as we deliver on our promise to put more money in working people's pockets through our Plan for Change.' The CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, Ugur Şahin, said the agreement 'marks the next chapter of our successful strategic partnership with the UK Government'.
STV News
19-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Sir Elton John ‘incredibly betrayed' by Government's path on copyright law
Sir Elton John described the Government as 'absolute losers' and said he felt 'incredibly betrayed' after calls by peers to amend the Data (Use and Access) Bill to include greater copyright protections against artificial intelligence (AI) were resisted. Earlier this week, the House of Lords supported an amendment designed to ensure copyright holders would have to give permission over whether their work was used, and in turn, see what aspects had been taken, by who and when. MPs voted 297 to 168, majority 129, to disagree with this change on Wednesday evening, which means the stand-off between the two Houses over the wording of the Bill continues. The Government has argued that some of the proposed amendments to the Bill pre-empt the results of its copyright and AI consultation, and it does not want to legislate in a 'piecemeal' fashion. Sir Elton is among hundreds of creatives who have urged the Government to protect copyright law. Speaking to the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Sir Elton said: 'It's criminal, in that I feel incredibly betrayed. 'The House of Lords did a vote, and it was more than two to one in our favour, the Government just looked at it as if to say, 'hmmm, well the old people… like me can afford it.' The singer said the Government was on track to 'rob young people of their legacy and their income, it's a criminal offence, I think'. He added: 'The government are just being absolute losers, and I'm very angry about it.' Sir Elton also said he was prepared to take ministers to court, telling the programme: 'We'll fight it all the way'. A Department for Science, Innovation and Technology spokesperson said: 'The Data (Use and Access) Bill is focused on unlocking the secure and effective use of data for the public interest – boosting the economy by an estimated £10 billion over the course of the next 10 years to help deliver the growth which is fundamental to the government's plan for change. 'We want our creative industries and AI companies to flourish, which is why we have been separately consulting on a package of measures that we hope will work for both sectors. 'We have always been clear that we will not rush into any decisions or bring forward any legislation until we are confident that we have a practical plan which delivers on each of our objectives.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
North Wales Chronicle
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Sir Elton John reveals anger at Government over AI protection
Hundreds of creatives, including Sir Elton, have been calling for the government to amend the Data (Use and Access) Bill to give greater protection against AI. Earlier this week, the House of Lords supported an amendment designed to ensure copyright holders would have to give permission over whether their work was used, and in turn, see what aspects had been taken, by who and when. However, MPs voted 297 to 168 to disagree with this change on Wednesday (May 14), meaning the stand-off between the two Houses over the wording of the Bill continues. The Government has argued that some of the proposed amendments to the Bill pre-empt the results of its copyright and AI consultation, and it does not want to legislate in a 'piecemeal' fashion. Sir Elton, speaking to the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, said the Government's decision not to amend the Data Bill was "criminal" and he felt "incredibly betrayed". He added: "The House of Lords did a vote, and it was more than two to one in our favour, the Government just looked at it as if to say, 'hmmm, well the old people… like me can afford it.' The singer said the Government was on track to 'rob young people of their legacy and their income," adding "it's a criminal offence'. Tomorrow! On #bbclaurak As battle rages btw ministers and the music industry over AI we speak exclusively to a real life legend - Sir Elton John! He continued: 'The government are just being absolute losers, and I'm very angry about it.' Sir Elton also said he was prepared to take ministers to court, telling Laura Kuenssberg: 'We'll fight it all the way'. RECOMMENDED READING: A Department for Science, Innovation and Technology spokesperson said: 'The Data (Use and Access) Bill is focused on unlocking the secure and effective use of data for the public interest – boosting the economy by an estimated £10 billion over the course of the next 10 years to help deliver the growth which is fundamental to the government's plan for change. 'We want our creative industries and AI companies to flourish, which is why we have been separately consulting on a package of measures that we hope will work for both sectors. 'We have always been clear that we will not rush into any decisions or bring forward any legislation until we are confident that we have a practical plan which delivers on each of our objectives.'
North Wales Chronicle
18-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Sir Elton John ‘incredibly betrayed' by Government's path on copyright law
Earlier this week, the House of Lords supported an amendment designed to ensure copyright holders would have to give permission over whether their work was used, and in turn, see what aspects had been taken, by who and when. MPs voted 297 to 168, majority 129, to disagree with this change on Wednesday evening, which means the stand-off between the two Houses over the wording of the Bill continues. The Government has argued that some of the proposed amendments to the Bill pre-empt the results of its copyright and AI consultation, and it does not want to legislate in a 'piecemeal' fashion. Sir Elton is among hundreds of creatives who have urged the Government to protect copyright law. Speaking to the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Sir Elton said: 'It's criminal, in that I feel incredibly betrayed. 'The House of Lords did a vote, and it was more than two to one in our favour, the Government just looked at it as if to say, 'hmmm, well the old people… like me can afford it.' The singer said the Government was on track to 'rob young people of their legacy and their income, it's a criminal offence, I think'. He added: 'The government are just being absolute losers, and I'm very angry about it.' Sir Elton also said he was prepared to take ministers to court, telling the programme: 'We'll fight it all the way'. A Department for Science, Innovation and Technology spokesperson said: 'The Data (Use and Access) Bill is focused on unlocking the secure and effective use of data for the public interest – boosting the economy by an estimated £10 billion over the course of the next 10 years to help deliver the growth which is fundamental to the government's plan for change. 'We want our creative industries and AI companies to flourish, which is why we have been separately consulting on a package of measures that we hope will work for both sectors. 'We have always been clear that we will not rush into any decisions or bring forward any legislation until we are confident that we have a practical plan which delivers on each of our objectives.'
