Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Oliver Heald and Andrew Griffith

Wednesday 10th January 2024 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Griffith]

A fair immigration policy is absolutely part of an open Britain. It is right that those who come here from overseas and live cheek by jowl with those who clean their labs, drive their local buses and empty their bins do their fair share in contributing to the UK economy.

[Sir Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire) (Con)]

Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the reasons—[Interruption.]

[Sir Oliver Heald]

Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the great strengths of our rejoining Horizon and the other European programmes is that our expert researchers and top professors will lead research teams that attract researchers from across the world, including the EU? That is one way to retain researchers here.

[Andrew Griffith]

My right hon. and learned Friend makes an apposite point. I would ask all Members of this House to go back to their constituencies and talk to local firms, innovators, clusters and universities to make sure the UK punches above its weight in the Horizon programme.