Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the university sector on the level of future additional sources of Government funding after the UK leaves the EU.

Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

The government is committed to maintaining the position of our world-class universities. The Chancellor stated in August that, to ensure stability in the period leading up to our departure from the EU, we will guarantee: multi-year contracts from the structural and investment funds signed by government before we leave and successful bids from competitive EU funds, for example Horizon 2020, submitted while the UK is a member of the EU. The Treasury will underwrite these payments even when specific projects continue beyond departure from the EU.

In addition, the government has announced that it will guarantee access to loans and grants for EU students starting in the academic year 2017-18. These will be available throughout the duration of their course.