Science and Discovery Centres’ support for education and careers in STEM subjects

Westminster Hall debate - 24 March 2021

Dr Ben Spencer MP

On Wednesday 24 March 2021, Dr Ben Spencer MP led a Westminster Hall debate on Science and Discovery Centres’ support for education and careers in STEM subjects.

Several other MPs made contributions to the debate including Catherine West, Steve Brine and Carol Monaghan.

Michelle Donelan MP responded to the debate on behalf of the Government. As Minister for Universities, her role sits within the Department for Education. The issues raised in the debate are also relevant to other government departments such as Culture, Media and Sport, and Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Watch the debate

You can read the transcript on Hansard

Introducing the debate, Dr Ben Spencer gave the following statement:

"Science and Discovery Centres are a vital part of the education system, help tackle inequalities through encouraging engagement from disadvantaged communities, and broaden access to careers in STEM to underrepresented groups such as women.

"Science and innovation has never been more important than now as we see the benefits of science and importance of public science literacy in our response to the pandemic and as we look to the future challenges of climate change and how to rebuild a greener economy.

"I am delighted to have secured a Westminster Hall Debate at 14:30 on Wednesday on Science and Discovery Centres. These Centres, like many charities, have been badly affected by the pandemic. This is an opportunity to highlight and celebrate their role in supporting our schools and children now, and our future workforce and economy."
Dr Ben Spencer MP

Parliamentary activity and resources

House of Commons Library research briefings:

Science and Discovery Centres’ support for education in science and careers in STEM subjects - a briefing prepared for this debate which covers relevant context, policies, parliamentary questions, press articles and further reading
FE white paper: Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth
T Levels: Reforms to Technical Education

Parliamentary questions

Oral questions:

Katherine Fletcher MP: Science, Technology and Emerging Industries: Girls and Young Women (21 October 2020)
Claire Coutinho MP: STEM Subjects (23 September 2020)

Written questions:

Steve Double MP: Minerals: Higher Education (1 March 2021)
Tommy Sheppard MP, Science: Finance (11 May 2020)
Darren Jones MP, Science: Coronavirus (4 May 2020)
Alexander Stafford MP, STEM Subjects (9 March 2020)
Chi Onwurah MP, STEM Subjects: Ethnic Groups (25 February 2020)

Further parliamentary questions appear on page 7 of the House of Commons Library briefing for this debate.

You can search for written questions, answers and government statements on topics which interest you.

POST

The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) is a bicameral body within the UK Parliament. With more than 30 years of experience in sourcing reliable and up-to-date research evidence for the UK Parliament, POST is one of the first bodies of its kind in the world.

POST produces impartial, non-partisan, and peer-reviewed briefings, designed to make scientific research accessible to the UK Parliament. The briefings come in the form of POSTnotes and POSTbriefs. Timely and forward thinking, they cover the areas of biology and health, energy and environment, physical sciences and computing, and social sciences.

Science and Technology Committee

The work of many Government departments makes use of—or has implications for—science, engineering, technology and research. The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee exists to ensure that Government policies and decision-making are based on solid scientific evidence and advice. You can follow the Committee on Twitter @CommonsSTC.

Education Committee

The Education Committee scrutinises the work of the Department for Education, covering children’s social care, schools, colleges, the early years and higher education. The Committee also holds regular hearings with DfE’s arms-length bodies, including Ofsted, Ofqual and the Children’s Commissioner. You can follow the Committee on Twitter @CommonsEd

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee

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