Livingston MP welcomes strength of life sciences and biotech sectors in his constituency

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Livingston MP Gregor Poynton has highlighted the strength and potential of the life sciences and biotech sectors in his constituency, following confirmation from the UK Labour Government’s Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology of significant ongoing and future investments in the area.Speaking in Parliament, Mr Poynton asked the Minister of State, Chris Bryant MP, what steps his Department is taking to support innovation in Livingston.The Minister revealed that £4 million has already been invested in key projects in the constituency, including support for SilviBio, a company developing sustainable alternatives to peat.Commenting on the sector’s development, Mr Poynton said: “In the Livingston constituency, we have a number of fantastic biotech and life sciences businesses such as Valneva, which is working on a range of vaccines, including malaria, and SilviBio, as the Minister mentioned, working on sustainable alternatives to peat.“Given the failure and neglect of both the Conservative Government and the SNP Scottish Government in supporting the biotech and life sciences industry, I asked what steps are being taken to create an environment where these vital industries can thrive in Livingston and across Scotland.”The Minister acknowledged Livingston as a “remarkable example” of how investment can drive innovation, referencing the £4 million investment in 2023 from Merck, which has become one of the largest investors in Scotland.The Minister also agreed on the importance of collaboration between Westminster and Holyrood to unlock the full potential of Scotland’s life sciences sector.Mr Poynton added: “Livingston is home to some of the most innovative companies in the UK, and I am determined to ensure they