[Esther McVey in the Chair]

Before we begin, I have a few preliminary announcements. Hon. Members will understand the need to respect social distancing guidance. In line with the House of Commons Commission decision, face coverings should be worn in Committee unless Members are speaking or medically exempt. Hansard colleagues would be grateful if Members emailed their speaking notes to hansardnotes@parliament.uk. Please switch electronic devices to silent mode. Tea and coffee are not allowed during sittings.

Today, we will first consider the programme motion on the amendment paper. We will then consider a motion to enable the reporting of written evidence for publication and a motion to allow us to deliberate in private about our questions before the oral evidence sessions. In view of the time available, I hope that we can take these matters formally, without debate. The programme motion was discussed yesterday by the Programming Sub-Committee for the Bill.

Ordered,

That—

(1) the Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 9.25 am on Wednesday 14 April) meet—

(a) at 2.00 pm on Wednesday 14 April;

(b) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 20 April;

(c) at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 22 April;

(d) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 27 April;

(2) the Committee shall hear oral evidence in accordance with the following Table;

TABLE

Date

Time

Witness

Wednesday 14 April

Until no later than 10.25 am

Nesta; UK Research and Innovation

Wednesday 14 April

Until no later than 11.25 am

Professor Philip Bond, University of Manchester; Professor Mariana Mazzucato, University College London; Professor James Wilsdon, University of Sheffield

Wednesday 14 April

Until no later than 3.00 pm

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; Wellcome Leap; Professor Pierre Azoulay, MIT

Wednesday 14 April

Until no later than 3.45 pm

Professor Dame Anne Glover, Royal Society of Edinburgh (formerly); Tabitha Goldstaub, CognitionX

Wednesday 14 April

Until no later than 4.30 pm

The Royal Society; Royal Academy of Engineering; Confederation of British Industry

Wednesday 14 April

Until no later than 5.00 pm

David Cleevely, Focal Point Positioning Ltd and the Cambridge Science Centre; Campaign for Science and Engineering

(3) proceedings on consideration of the Bill in Committee shall be taken in the following order: Clause 1; Schedule 1; Clauses 2 to 7; Schedule 2; Clauses 8 and 9; Schedule 3; Clauses 10 to 15; new Clauses; new Schedules; remaining proceedings on the Bill;

(4) the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 5.00 pm on Tuesday 27 April.—

The deadline for amendments to be considered at the first two line-by-line sittings of the Committee, on Tuesday 20 April, is the rise of the House tomorrow.

Resolved,

That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication.—(Amanda Solloway.)

Copies of written evidence that the Committee receives will be made available in the Committee Room and circulated to Members by email.

Resolved,

That, at this and any subsequent meeting at which oral evidence is to be heard, the Committee shall sit in private until the witnesses are admitted.—(Amanda Solloway.)

The Committee deliberated in private.