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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to seek Associated Country status for the UK for the EU's Framework Programme 9.

We want to ensure that the next EU framework programme for research and development (FP9) remains focused on excellence, with appropriate financial contributions and suitable level of influence for Associated Countries. We have set out further detail in our recent FP9 position paper and sought to assure the EU of our commitment to ongoing collaboration in Science and Innovation. The UK’s participation in FP9 will depend upon the outcome of our negotiations with the EU.