Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Blomfield Excerpts
Tuesday 28th June 2016

(8 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Johnson of Marylebone Portrait Joseph Johnson
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The Government continue to work with all partners to raise awareness and interest in STEM careers. Initiatives such as the Inspiring Science Capital Fund, a £30 million programme that we launched with the Wellcome Trust, STEM Ambassadors, which is a £5 million-a-year programme, the Polar Explorer programme I have already mentioned, and the industry-led Your Life campaign are providing inspiration for young people to consider STEM careers. I am pleased to say that over 50% of STEM undergraduates are now women.

Paul Blomfield Portrait Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) (Lab)
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The Minister will know how important EU research funding is to our universities, particularly in relation to STEM subjects. He will also know that those leading the leave campaign promised that no sector would lose out as a result of Brexit. Forget about the next two years—if I could push him on his earlier answer, what will he be doing to ensure that UK Government funds replace European funding, pound for pound, in supporting research in our universities?

Lord Johnson of Marylebone Portrait Joseph Johnson
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We remain members of the European Union. Our institutions are fully able to apply for and win European competitive funding schemes, and they will continue to be able to do so until such time as we change the basis of our relationship with Horizon 2020.