Select committee: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee
Conclusion 6
Fifth Report - The semiconductor industry in the UK
Published 28 Nov 2022
Paragraph 79
Addressed to Department for Business and Trade
Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee The Semiconductor Industry in the UK All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
We recognise that many Government departments have an interest in the semiconductor industry, and that these interests may overlap. But, in our view, the value of semiconductors to so many sectors of the UK economy and to UK national infrastructure, combined with the national security necessity of safeguarding 40 The semiconductor industry in the UK semiconductor supply, make it essential that a single Government department takes responsibility for nurturing the semiconductor industry in the UK and for security of supplies. We believe that that department should be BEIS, because of its overarching responsibility for industrial strategy, business support, engagement with industry and policy on research funding, and because of its role in protecting UK industrial assets from undue control by overseas entities.
From: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee, Fifth Report - The semiconductor industry in the UK (HC 291), paragraph 79, 28 November 2022
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 25 May 2023 (deadline 28 January 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government has published its National Semiconductor Strategy and sets out its response to the Committee's recommendations, committing to up to £1 billion over the next decade and to working with international partners.
- On funding, the Government says it is investing "up to £200 million" over the next two years and "up to £1 billion" over ten years, and that it will announce plans "by the Autumn" to support semiconductor manufacturing.
- On industry engagement, the Government "agrees" the approach must be industry-led and will formally launch a UK Semiconductor Advisory Panel at London Tech Week in June 2023.
- On supply chain resilience, it commits to publish resilience guidance, establish a government-industry forum and run a crisis and contingency planning exercise, and will evaluate future domestic manufacturing needs through research "reporting in the Autumn".
- On the Nexperia case, the Government says it "still cannot provide any further update" while judicial review proceedings are ongoing.