Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Government's policy paper, Collaboration on Science and Innovation: Future Partnership Paper, published on 6 September 2017, whether it is his policy to request UK membership of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures after the UK leaves the EU.

As set out in the Collaboration on Science and Innovation: Future Partnership Paper, the UK will look to build on its unique relationship with the EU and establish an agreement on science and innovation that ensures the valuable research links between us continue to grow. This will deliver shared UK and European prosperity, and social, environmental and health benefits.

The UK would like to work with the EU on designing this agreement, and would welcome a full and open discussion about all of the options for continued collaboration, including options for UK participation in EU programmes, agencies and other bodies such as the aforementioned European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures.