Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effect on the UK's projection of soft power of the UK leaving (a) Horizon 2020, (b) the Erasmus Plus programme, (c) Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions and (d) Creative Europe; and if he will make a statement.

The Government is committed to enhancing the UK's position as world leader in soft power by promoting our strengths and our values globally. The UK excels in the fields of science, research, education and creativity and will continue to invest in strong relationships with our European partners.

As part of the process of leaving the EU we will take informed decisions about how to deliver the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding. While the FCO is not the lead Department for these programmes, and has made no specific assessment in relation to soft power, the Government is working closely with stakeholders to review all EU funding schemes in the round, and to ensure that any ongoing funding commitments best serve the UK's national interest.