Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure that the UK's participation in the Horizon scheme cannot be (a) suspended and (b) terminated by the EU.
Answered by George Freeman
On 7th September the Prime Minister announced a new UK- EU agreement on the UK’s association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus. This is a landmark moment for scientific and space collaboration between the EU and the UK. Horizon Europe strengthens UK science and boosts economic growth. The Government has negotiated a bespoke deal in the UK’s national interest.
This agreement secures UK association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus through to 2027 when these programmes finish. The agreement will now be adopted by both sides, confirming the UK’s association to these two programmes as well as binding both parties to the terms of this deal.
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure the Horizon Scheme aligns with the UK’s priorities.
Answered by George Freeman
On 7th September the Prime Minister announced a new UK- EU agreement on the UK’s association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus. This is a landmark moment for scientific and space collaboration between the EU and the UK. Horizon Europe strengthens UK science and boosts economic growth. The Government has negotiated a bespoke deal in the UK’s national interest.
This agreement secures UK association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus through to 2027 when these programmes finish. The agreement will now be adopted by both sides, confirming the UK’s association to these two programmes as well as binding both parties to the terms of this deal.
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate her Department had made of the cost of (a) implementing and (b) running the Pioneer programme prior to the Government securing an agreement to join Horizon Europe.
Answered by George Freeman
As set out in the Pioneer Prospectus published April 2023, the government would have committed up to £14.6billion to implement and run the Pioneer Programme until 2027/28. This was part of a wider package of contingency measures the government developed in the event that the UK had been unable to associate to Horizon Europe and Copernicus.
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will publish a value for money assessment of the UK's participation in the Horizon Europe programme; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by George Freeman
The Government will not publish a value for money assessment. The Government has negotiated a bespoke deal in the UK’s national interest.
The Secretary of State made a statement to the House of Commons on 7 September 2023 and set out why the bespoke deal negotiated by the Government was the best outcome for the UK research and innovation sector.