Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution by the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation on 12 December 2017, Official Report, col. 172, what plans he has to make up the funding to the UK from Horizon 2020 which that programme has not contributed to the UK in the last 12 months.

Until our departure from the EU, we remain a fully paid up Member State, with all the rights and obligations that entails. This means that while we remain a member of the EU, UK businesses and universities continue to have full access to funding through the EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme, Horizon 2020. The important work being done by our researchers, universities and innovative businesses must continue throughout this period.

The joint report from the negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom Government approved by the European Council on 15 December stated that UK entities’ right to participate in EU programmes will be unaffected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. This means that UK based organisations and individuals will be able to bid for funding, participate in and lead consortia, in 2019 and 2020, and will continue to receive funding for the lifetime of the project.

It remains the case that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, which is why the Government’s underwrite guarantee remains in place. UK businesses and universities should continue to bid for competitive EU funds while we remain a member of the EU and we will work with the Commission to ensure payment when funds are awarded. The Government will underwrite the payment of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU.