Exiting the European Union

Debate between David Davis and John Pugh

Monday 5th September 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

The Chancellor made some arrangements that helped underpin the current circumstances. The Student Loans Company has made some arrangements and I saw Universities UK myself the other day to find out what other concerns it has. We are pursuing those concerns, so I do not think that we can be accused of not paying proper attention to that sector. We are very conscious that it is a sensitive sector in these terms.

As for the title of my Department, I do not know whether my hon. Friend was the parliamentary wag who called it “Department X”, but thank you very much.

[John Pugh (Southport) (LD)]

Following on from that question, 15% of our academics are EU citizens and we would like more. What is being done to give them long-term security?

[Mr Davis]

The movements of academics—researchers in particular, I guess—in and out of British universities antedates entry to the European Union by a very long margin. Britain is a science superpower standing on our own two feet, and that will continue after we leave the EU.