Harper Adams University praised at Prime Minister's Questions

Posted 15 March 2023

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak takes questions at the Despatch Box in the House of Commons - picture credit: ©UK Parliament/Andy Bailey. This photo, and all related crops, are released under an Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) license. 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has praised Harper Adams University as ‘a fantastic example of the type of innovation and skills provision that we need in our agri-tech sector.’

The Prime Minister was speaking in response to Mark Pritchard, MP for the Wrekin - in whose constituency the University is located – at today’s Prime Minister’s Questions.

As MPs prepared for today’s Spring Budget, where Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will set out his assessment of the UK economy, Mr Pritchard asked: “Does the Prime Minister agree with me that agri-tech is a vital part of the UK economy, and in particular the excellent work of the crop and research centre at Harper Adams University in Shropshire?

“I know that he has a busy schedule, but could he dispatch the Secretary of State to come and look at that research centre, and in particular the women leading science and maths at Harper Adams University and indeed, leading the world?”

In response, the Prime Minister warmly endorsed Harper Adams, and said: “I agree with my Honourable Friend - indeed, Harper Adams is a fantastic example of the type of innovation and skills provision that we need in our agri-tech sector.”

  

Speaking shortly after the debate, Ian Rowley, Chief Global Impact Officer at Harper Adams, said: “Mark has been a regular visitor to Harper Adams as our constituency MP, and has taken a keen interest in our work.

 “We have also been pleased to welcome Government Ministers to the University – most recently Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries, the Rt Hon Mark Spencer MP, who visited us in February.

“We’re very pleased to get a Prime Ministerial endorsement for our work in developing innovation and skills in agri-tech, particularly on as busy a day for Government business as this – and we’re always very happy to welcome politicians to our campus to see that work for themselves!”

  

_{Image title: Prime Minister's Questions - 8 February 2023 Credit: ©UK Parliament/Andy Bailey. This photo, and all related crops, are released under an Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) license.}