Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (Chair)

Ensuring MPs have access to independent, balanced and accessible analysis

I have long been an outspoken supporter of evidence-based policy making. It is natural for politicians to disagree on the best way forward, but debate and policy-making is always improved when the latest facts, evidence and science are readily available. The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) is politically impartial and produces dozens of briefings (’POSTnotes’) on a range of topical and technical subjects each year to help inform parliamentarians and policy-makers. The objective of POST is to ensure that Parliamentarians cannot misunderstand or misuse scientific facts due to confusion or political expediency. POSTnotes do not make policy recommendations, instead they provide a general background on information relevant to topical areas of policy. POST’s briefings are well recognised as high-quality, peer-reviewed, unbiased and non-ideological. It is overseen by a fantastic cross-party board of MPs and Peers with external advisers and a team of dedicated scientists, and I am proud to chair it.

Evidence-based policy making is crucial to ensuring public trust.
Parliamentarians must have access to credible and independent briefings to aid in their decision making process.
Britain has a proud and prestigious reputation in scientific research and endeavour.

Actions undertaken in Parliament

Chaired quarterly board meetings for the last 7 years.
Participated in group reviews of nearly 200 POSTnotes.
Signed co-operation agreements with POST’s counterparts in Mexico and Chile to aid in setting up counterparts.

Recent activities

Windsor MP welcomes government efforts to promote educational technology

February 8, 2018 · Posted by Adam Afriyie · Parliamentary Questions Press Releases

Subjects: Edtech, Education, Social Mobility, Technology

Adam Afriyie, the MP for Windsor, has asked the Government a Parliamentary Question on what they are doing to ensure that educational technology resources are available to schools to further the educational attainment of pupils.

It revealed that the UK government is investing in applying technology to the education system and ensuing that the UK’s skill profile matches the anticipated demand in new high tech areas such as artificial intelligence.

Continue reading

Update: Windsor MP asks Government question on investment

March 8, 2017 · Posted by Adam Afriyie · Notes Parliamentary Questions

Subjects: Business, Economy, Technology

On Tuesday 28^th February Adam asked Chancellor of the Exchequer for an update on the work that they are doing to make Britain a better place for private sector firms to invest.

The MP for the Windsor constituency, Adam Afriyie, said:

“Private sector investment is a motor for future economic growth so it is essential that Britain has a simple and generous tax credit system for R&D.

Windsor MP asks Government question on investment

February 28, 2017 · Posted by Adam Afriyie · Notes

Subjects: Business, Economy, Investment, R&D, Technology

On Tuesday 28^th February Adam asked Chancellor of the Exchequer for an update on the work that they are doing to make Britain a better place for private sector firms to invest:

Treasury Questions – Tuesday 28^th February

Adam Afriyie (Windsor, Conservative): I very much welcome this Government’s healthy commitment to scientific spending over several years, but it seems that our business investment in research is below the OECD average. May I urge the Chancellor to examine measures that will increase private company business expenditure on research?

David Gauke (Chief Secretary to the Treasury): As the Chancellor announced at the autumn statement, the Government are significantly increasing investment in research and development, rising to an extra £2 billion a year by 2020-21. We have also made the R&D tax credit regime much more generous. We want to ensure that the UK remains an attractive place for business to invest in innovative research.

Windsor MP asks questions on space policy in Parliament

December 13, 2016 · Posted by Adam Afriyie · Parliamentary Questions

Subjects: Investment, Space, Technology

On Tuesday 13^th December Adam asked the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Department for an update on the progress at the recent European Space Agency (ESA) summit (4:53 to 6:21).

The MP for the Windsor constituency, Adam Afriyie, said:

“As a former Chair of the Parliamentary Space Committee, I am delighted that the Government continues to invest in making the UK a world leader in the space industry.

Blockchains: The Most Important Thing You’ve Never Heard Of

February 11, 2016 · Posted by Adam Afriyie · Notes

Subjects: Blockchain, FinTech, Technology

You could be forgiven for having never heard of a “blockchain”. When I raised the issue of blockchains in Parliament it was the first time the word had been recorded in the Hansard record of parliamentary debate. It hasn’t been mentioned again.

Yet at tech events and forums discussion is ablaze with the seemingly limitless possibilities of blockchains, with some claiming they will transform the internet in the same way that the combustion engine revolutionized road travel. But what is this revolutionary new technology?

Adam Afriyie, the MP for Windsor, has asked the Government a Parliamentary Question on what they are doing to ensure that educational technology resources are available to schools to further the educational attainment of pupils.

On Tuesday 28th February Adam asked Chancellor of the Exchequer for an update on the work that they are doing to make Britain a better place for private sector firms to invest.

On Tuesday 28th February Adam asked Chancellor of the Exchequer for an update on the work that they are doing to make Britain a better place for private sector firms to invest:

On Tuesday 13th December Adam asked the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Department for an update on the progress at the recent European Space Agency (ESA) summit (4:53 to 6:21).

You could be forgiven for having never heard of a “blockchain”. When I raised the issue of blockchains in Parliament it was the first time the word had been recorded in the Hansard record of parliamentary debate. It hasn’t been mentioned again.

On Tuesday 28^th February Adam asked Chancellor of the Exchequer for an update on the work that they are doing to make Britain a better place for private sector firms to invest.

On Tuesday 28^th February Adam asked Chancellor of the Exchequer for an update on the work that they are doing to make Britain a better place for private sector firms to invest:

On Tuesday 13^th December Adam asked the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Department for an update on the progress at the recent European Space Agency (ESA) summit (4:53 to 6:21).