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

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following their indication that they will to continue to collaborate with European partners on science and research initiatives post-Brexit, how they intend to support the development of links between UK and European scientific organisations and institutions.

In March, the UK and EU negotiation teams reached an important milestone in the Brexit process by agreeing the terms of a time-limited implementation period, which provides for UK entities’ continued access to EU programmes, including Horizon 2020, for their duration.

Furthermore, as my rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in her Mansion House speech, we want to establish a far-reaching science and innovation pact with the EU, facilitating the exchange of ideas and researchers. This could include continuing to cooperate through specific policies and programmes that are greatly to our mutual advantage.

The most substantial areas that we are interested in exploring include Framework Programme 9, Euratom Research and Training and the Copernicus programme. Specifically, we would like the option to fully associate to these programmes – we feel that this is in our joint interests. The scale and strength of the UK’s research and innovation is such that we should be looking for a bespoke relationship. We would like to discuss the details as soon as possible.