Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Brexit: Science and Technology Sector

Wednesday 14 June 2023 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Chris Stephens asked about the impact of Brexit on the science and technology sector, to which the Minister highlighted significant growth in investment since 2016.
  • The Minister clarified that the UK negotiated membership in the Horizon programme as part of the Brexit deal, noting the EU had initially excluded the UK.
  • Chi Onwurah questioned the Conservative government's handling of the UK's exit from the Horizon Europe fund, expressing concerns over lost jobs and investment, while the Minister defended the government's actions and investment in the sector.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Stephens SNP
Brexit Science & Technology
Context

Since the UK's departure from the EU, concerns have been raised about the impact on scientific research and technological development.

Question

What assessment has she made of the potential impact of the UK's departure from the EU on the science and technology sector?

Answer from George Freeman

Over the past six or seven years since 2016, this country has seen extraordinary growth in investment in our science and technology sector. Members do not need to take it from me: they can take it from those who track the investment. The UK has nearly 20 times more venture capital than its level of funding in 2011, and I am delighted to say that a majority of that—the fastest growth—is around the country. The east midlands and Northern Ireland have seen the sharpest increases in investment in the past four years, with growth in the east midlands topping at 300%. Something extraordinary is going on in this economy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address potential negative impacts of Brexit on science and technology sector

How: Highlighting Positive Aspects Instead Of Addressing Concerns

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Q2 Chris Stephens SNP
Brexit
Context

The UK has been pushing for a discount in membership fees for the Horizon programme, arguing that researchers have faced disadvantages due to being outside of it.

Question

I thank the Minister for that answer, but the UK Government are pushing for a discount on membership in the Horizon programme, arguing that UK researchers have been disadvantaged by two years outside that programme. Does that not amount to the Conservative party openly admitting that cutting the UK off from Europe was damaging, and that we must return as a matter of urgency to European projects such as Horizon?

Answer from George Freeman

To be very clear, we negotiated membership of Horizon, Copernicus and Euratom specifically in our Brexit deal—it was the EU that held us out. Secondly, while we have been waiting, we have deployed over £1 billion of extra funding here in the UK to support our sector, and now that the Prime Minister has secured the Windsor framework, the negotiations are actively going on.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly acknowledge any admission of damage from leaving EU

How: Redirecting Focus To Actions Taken Since Leaving

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Q3 Oliver Heald Con
Brexit Science & Technology
Context

The importance of international collaboration for scientific research has been highlighted, particularly involving the EU.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is as important to the EU as it is to the UK to have good science co-operation, and that the benefits of our wonderful companies such as Johnson Matthey in Royston and the big companies we have in Stevenage demonstrate the importance of international co-operation in business? That should happen in universities as well. It is for the EU as well as us.

Answer from George Freeman

My right hon. and learned Friend makes an important point. One of the attractions of Horizon is that we get back most of what we put in, and it funds research collaborations across our system, but the negotiations are important. We have been out of the system for two years; we need to get a fair deal, as the Prime Minister has made clear, and to make sure that the UK is not paying for stuff that it has not been able to access over the past two and a half years.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly agree or disagree with importance of international cooperation

How: Focusing On Negotiations Instead

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Q4 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Brexit Science & Technology
Context

There have been reports that negotiations for the UK to rejoin the Horizon Europe programme are stalled due to demands for a reduced fee.

Question

It is now 127 weeks of uncertainty, delay and broken promises since the Conservatives took us out of the world's biggest and most prestigious science fund, Horizon Europe. Our scientists, universities and businesses have paid the price in lost jobs and investment, so will the Minister confirm or deny the reports that negotiations to rejoin Horizon have stalled because his Government are pushing for a reduced fee to reflect what they believe is a lasting reduction in grants won by UK scientists? If they have permanently damaged our success rate, should the Minister not be trying to fix that, rather than claim a discount?

Answer from George Freeman

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave a few moments ago. We have negotiated access to Horizon—it was the EU that kept us out. The Prime Minister has unblocked that through the Windsor framework. We have invested substantially through the funding guarantee for all Horizon programmes and through £850 million-odd of additional UK expenditure. We have also increased UK research and development to record levels. We will be at £52 billion by the end of this three years.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm or deny reports about stalled negotiations

How: Redirecting Focus To Substantial Investments Made

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