§ Mr. BellinghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent meetings she has had with leading universities to discuss improving their access to venture capital. [140531]
§ Ms HewittMinisters and officials in my Department are in regular contact with universities to discuss a range of issues including funding. Although neither myself or my noble Friend the Minister for Science and Innovation has had any recent meetings with universities specifically to discuss venture capital, it has formed part of many of the discussions which my noble Friend has had with universities and venture capitalists in the last year. The OST has been supporting universities' access to venture capital through University Challenge and the Higher Education Innovation Fund.