Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to seek programme country status in relation to Erasmus after 2021.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The UK’s approach to negotiations with the European Union, as set out in the ‘Future Relationship with the European Union’, is clear that we remain open to participation in elements of Erasmus+, on a time-limited basis, provided the terms are in the UK’s interests.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the financial implications of reducing the UK’s relationship with Erasmus after 2021 to that of partner status.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The UK’s approach to negotiations with the European Union, as set out in the ‘Future Relationship with the European Union’, is clear that we remain open to participation in elements of Erasmus+, on a time-limited basis, provided the terms are in the UK’s interests.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what level of future involvement for the UK in Erasmus and Horizon programmes they hope to establish after leaving the EU; what has been the financial contribution by the UK to those specific programmes in each of the last five years; and how much has been awarded, in total, to the UK from those programmes in each of the last five years.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
This government values the strong collaborative partnerships that we have across Europe in the areas of science, education, research and innovation and want to continue to support these opportunities.
The terms of the Withdrawal Agreement mean that the UK will continue to participate in EU Programmes financed by the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) until their closure. Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ are EU programmes financed during this MFF period.
UK organisations, scientists, researchers and businesses will be able to continue in these programmes and receive EU grant funding until the end of 2020 and for the lifetime of individual projects.
We will continue to collaborate with the EU on scientific research and education and we’ve been clear that where it is in the UK’s interests, we will seek to participate in some specific EU programmes, such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. The Political Declaration agreed with the EU in October 2019 demonstrates a shared intent between UK and EU leaders to agree a framework that supports collaboration in science and innovation.
The shape and content of EU programmes post-2020, including Horizon Europe and Erasmus+, are currently being negotiated in the EU Institutions and have not yet been finalised. These EU programmes must be adopted by the EU before any potential formal negotiations on association could begin.
As a Member State, the UK does not contribute financially to specific programmes. Member States pay for participation in EU framework programmes through the general UK contribution to the EU Budget.
The following table indicates the amount of Horizon 2020 funding awarded to UK organisations:
Year (grant signature) | Horizon 2020 funding awarded (excl. Euratom Research & Training)[1] |
2014 | € 394 million |
2015 | € 1,477 million |
2016 | € 1,344 million |
2017 | € 1,074 million |
2018 | € 1,069 million |
2019 | € 820 million |
Total | € 6,179 million |
[1] Data source: European Commission, https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/horizon-dashboard - accessed 14/01/2019. Accessed 14/01/2019
Please note totals of the table will not be accurate due to rounding.
With regards to Erasmus+, the most up-to-date information on funding results is held by the UK National Agency which is attached and can be found at the following link under ‘Statistics for the UK 2014-2018’: https://www.erasmusplus.org.uk/statistics.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have analysed the income from the apprenticeship levy on an industry by industry basis; whether they have made a comparative analysis of (1) that income, and (2) the number of apprentices in each industry; and if so, whether they will publish the results of any such analyses.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Before the introduction of the apprenticeship levy, we forecast the expected levy income on an industry by industry basis. This forecast is attached.
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) collects the levy on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government. HMRC has not yet analysed the income received from the Apprenticeship Levy on an industry by industry basis.
We published apprenticeship starts data on an industry by industry basis on 25 October 2018. This publication is attached.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of children in rural England who no longer have access to free school transport as a result of cutbacks to free transport services by local councils; and what is their policy on the provision of school transport in rural areas.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The government does not centrally collect data on the number of children who receive free transport.
Local authorities consistently spend approximately £1 billion per year on home to school transport.
Local authorities must provide free transport from home to school for eligible children. This includes transport for those who attend their nearest suitable school where it is beyond the statutory walking distances of two miles for children under eight years old and three miles for those aged eight to 16. They must also provide transport where there is no safe walking route. Approximately 60% of this funding is spent on transport for children with special educational needs.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to maintain the statutory responsibility for local authorities to provide free school transport; and whether they intend to vary the terms of that responsibility.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Statutory responsibility for providing free home to school transport for eligible children rests with local authorities. There are currently no plans to change those duties.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to clarify the fee status of EU students studying at UK universities from September 2019.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Future arrangements for EU students starting courses after 2018/19, and who are not settled in the UK or on a pathway to settled status by the specified date, will need to be considered as part of wider discussions about the UK’s relationship with the EU.
Applications for courses starting in 2019/20 do not open until September 2018, and we are working to ensure students applying have information well in advance of this date.