Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Richard Arkless and Lord Johnson of Marylebone

Tuesday 31st January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Richard Arkless (Dumfries and Galloway) (SNP)]

10. What steps he is taking to safeguard investment in research and development in Scotland as a result of the UK's decision to leave the EU.

[The Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation (Joseph Johnson)]

As the Secretary of State has already said, the Government are supporting research and development throughout the UK. We protected the resource budget at the 2015 spending review and committed an extra £2 billion in the most recent autumn statement—the largest increase in science funding since 1979.

[Richard Arkless]

A hard Brexit will threaten Scotland’s world-class university sector, and the price of the research development investment that we are discussing was a staggering €8.8 billion from 2007-2013. What representations are this Department making to the Treasury and the Brexit Secretary to protect that vital investment?

[Joseph Johnson]

Scotland is a powerhouse for academic research, and we want to play to one of this country’s great strengths, so we welcome the agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science and technology programmes in years to come. Britain will remain at the forefront of collective endeavours to improve and better understand the world in which we live.