Asked by: Lord Cromwell (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of Brexit, whether the UK will continue to participate in the Unified Patent Court; and whether the central division dealing with pharmaceuticals and life sciences will continue to be based in London, in accordance with the announcement by Baroness Neville-Rolfe at the October 2015 EU Competitiveness Council.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The Government confirmed in November 2016 that the UK will proceed with preparations to ratify the Unified Patent Court Agreement. Those preparations are progressing. No decision has been taken on our future involvement in the court once we have left the EU. That will be part of the negotiations which have not yet begun. It would be wrong to set out unilateral positions in advance but the Government’s efforts will be focussed on seeking the best deal possible in the negotiations with our European partners.
Asked by: Lord Cromwell (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the UK will continue to participate in the EU Intellectual Property Office following Brexit; and if so, what will be the mechanism by which this will be achieved.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The UK's future relationship with the European Union Intellectual Property Office is a matter for negotiations with the EU. It would be inappropriate to set out unilateral positions in advance.
Officials in the Intellectual Property Office, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Exiting the European Union are considering the options available to us with the aim of achieving the best outcome for UK right holders and the UK as a whole.
Meanwhile, UK businesses will continue to be able to apply to the European Union Intellectual Property Office for EU Trade Marks and Registered Community Designs covering the member states of the EU.
Asked by: Lord Cromwell (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much EU funding is currently accessible by UK universities and research bodies; and what assessment they have made of the impact of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU on (1) such funding in the future, and (2) UK universities’ and research bodies’ ability to develop and sustain world-class research and educational programmes.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The main streams of funds available to UK universities and research bodies are Horizon 2020, Erasmus Plus and aspects of the European Structural and Investment Funds.
Under Horizon 2020, the current Framework Programme, the UK has been awarded €1.84bn to date[1] (excluding the Euratom nuclear research and training programme).
In 2014, the first year of the Erasmus Plus Programme, the UK obtained €79.08 million for mobility grants to 36,734 people from all educational sectors to study, train and volunteer abroad. A further €30.66m was obtained for cooperation projects[2].
The UK’s strategy[3] for its 2014-2020 allocations from the European Structural and Investment Funds sets out that €1.6bn was earmarked for the theme of research, technological development and innovation.
As the Prime Minister has made clear, while the UK remains a member of the EU, current EU funding arrangements continue unchanged, including those that apply to students, researchers, and businesses. It will be for the Government under the new Prime Minister to begin the negotiation to leave, and set out arrangements for those currently in receipt of EU funds.
The UK economy is fundamentally strong and our research and innovation are world leading. The Government intends to maintain and enhance the strength of our research base.
UK participation in H2020 and FP7, BIS occasional (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-participation-in-horizon-2020-and-framework-programme-7)
Ref: https://www.britishcouncil.org/organisation/press/british-council-ecorys-uk-delighted-win-erasmus.
Asked by: Lord Cromwell (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of reports that non-UK EU citizens are reconsidering job offers from UK companies, what assessment they have made of whether prospective employers in the UK will have access to a more limited pool of skills.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
As my Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister has said, there will be no immediate changes as a result of the EU referendum, including in the circumstances of non-UK EU citizens working in the UK. The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK remains open for business and continues to grow and thrive. Ensuring our new relationship with the EU works for employees and employers will be important in the months ahead.
Asked by: Lord Cromwell (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of reports that non-UK EU companies are reconsidering or withdrawing job offers to UK nationals, what assessment they have made of whether prospective employees will have access to a more limited pool of opportunities.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK remains open for business and continues to grow and thrive. Ensuring our new relationship with the EU works for employees and employers will be important in the months ahead