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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the EU on the allocation of Research Fund for Coal and Steel assets after the UK leaves the EU.

The Government will decide on expenditure in the next Spending Review after EU Exit. Science and innovation have been made a priority by the UK Government and is at the heart of the Department’s Industrial Strategy, in recognition of the strong economic benefits of public investment in science and innovation and its capacity to leverage private investment. The Government is continuing to work with the steel sector, trade unions and Devolved Administrations to develop a long-term viable solution for the UK steel industry.