Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie has told MPs Anglesey stands ready to take up the baton of world class research and development through new Government legislation to make the UK a science superpower.

Mrs Crosbie sat on the bill committee of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (ARIA) - part of the Government’s plan to invest £14.6 billion in R&D by 2022.

It also aims to see 2.4 per cent of GDP being spent on R&D across the UK economy by 2027.

Speaking in the House of Commons the Conservative politician, who studied microbiology, said: “On Ynys Môn, there is already the infrastructure in place for research and innovation, hosted by the Menai Science Park, which is the innovation hub for Bangor University.

“Businesses such as Tech Tyfu, a vertical farming pilot project in Gwynedd and Ynys Môn delivered by Menter Môn, provide the opportunity for the UK to increase UK food production.

“We need to encourage more people with an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset, such as those at Tech Tyfu and the others located at M-SParc, to engage with research in order to solve the problems that the world faces today and in the future.”

She explained the last year has shown everyone the power of science to deliver solutions, and "now is the time to further invest in the ideas of the future that will allow us to continue to make scientific progress".

She added: “ARIA will give the United Kingdom and the island of Ynys Môn the opportunity to grasp and shape our future on a global stage.

"It will help drive innovation and investment, and secure our status as a science superpower. I am proud to support this Bill.”