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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans the Government has to support the Ser Cymru II programme in Wales after the UK has left the EU.

This Government intends to secure the best possible outcome for the UK research base as we exit the European Union (EU). UK participants 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 Treasury will underwrite the payment of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU. Access to apply to the Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions scheme and subsequent funding programmes after we leave the EU will be a matter for the negotiations that will follow the triggering of Article 50.