Horizon Europe

Lord Davies of Brixton Excerpts

Thursday 7th July 2022 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

My noble friend is exactly correct.

[Lord Davies of Brixton (Lab)]

My Lords, the Minister referred to plan B, and the financial commitment is obviously to be welcomed. Does he agree that the most important issue here is not finance but the international networks established for research? I should like to quote Professor Dame Anne Johnson, president of the Academy of Medical Sciences, who said:

“Horizon Europe provides an important and established framework for the networks and relationships that underpin international health research and benefit patients’ health everywhere.”


Does the Minister accept that it is the international networks that are crucial?

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

Money is of course important but I agree that the international networks, both with the EU and wider partners, are also crucial. That I why we should like to associate with Horizon Europe if the EU is prepared to sit down and discuss these things with us and to live up to the commitments it made in the TCA. I am sorry that many Members of this House are prepared to make excuses for the EU on this. We agreed it and are prepared to live by the commitment. It is the EU that is refusing to honour what it signed up to.