Erasmus Programme

Lord Balfe Excerpts

Monday 20th January 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Balfe]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to fulfil demand for the revival or replacement of the Erasmus programme.

[The Minister of State, Department for Education (Baroness Smith of Malvern) (Lab)]

My Lords, following the UK’s departure from the EU, the Government introduced the Turing scheme in 2021, which provides grants for students to study and work anywhere in the world and has supported tens of thousands of UK students since its launch. In addition, we are working with the higher education sector to ensure that our world-leading universities continue to attract the brightest and best. However, we have no plans for rejoining the Erasmus programme.

[Lord Balfe (Con)]

My Lords, the EU clearly wants a new EU mobility scheme for youth, and there is a great demand for that among young people in Britain. It would strengthen our society, labour market and economy, so why do the Government—as did, in fairness, the previous Government—seem so hell-bent on avoiding any commitment to a European solution?

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

We are, of course, already engaged in defining the important reset of our relationship with the EU. That is why the Prime Minister and the European Commission President met in the autumn to agree to strengthen our relationship. My right honourable friend, Minister Thomas-Symonds, has been taking discussions forward with his counterpart. We will look at EU proposals on a range of issues, but there are no plans for a youth mobility scheme and we will not return to freedom of movement.