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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the science and technology sectors in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Coventry.

The Government is undertaking a wide range of ongoing analysis in support of our EU Exit negotiations and preparations. We have been engaging with relevant stakeholders from all sectors of the economy and all regions of the UK as part of this process, and will continue to do so as we move forward.

We have been clear the Government will not provide an ongoing commentary on internal analytical work that is being carried out within government.

As part of our future partnership with the EU, the UK will look to establish an ambitious future agreement on science and innovation that ensures the valuable research links between us continue to grow.

In March 2018, the UK and EU negotiating teams reached an important milestone in the Brexit process by agreeing the terms of a time-limited implementation period. The draft Withdrawal Agreement reflects the text of the December Joint Report, which envisages that UK entities’ right to participate in EU programmes will be unaffected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

In addition, the UK Government has committed to underwrite Horizon 2020 funding if necessary. This guarantees funding for UK participants in projects ongoing at the point of exit, as well as any successful bids submitted before the UK leaves the EU.