Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what progress his Department has made in securing a reciprocal agreement with the EU that guarantees existing rights of (a) EU nationals in the UK and (b) UK nationals in the EU after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government has been clear that we should always put citizens first. This was reflected in the Prime Minister’s letter to the President of the European Council confirming the Government’s decision to invoke Article 50. We want to strike an early agreement about the rights of EU nationals in the UK and UK nationals in the EU and we would have been happy to do so in advance of negotiations. We will look to prioritise these issues as soon as negotiations begin.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the cost to the public purse of the European Medicines Agency physically leaving its current location in the UK.
Answered by David Jones
No decisions have been taken about the location of the European Medicines Agency. As part of the exit negotiations the Government will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation in the best interests of both the UK and the EU. It would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcome of the negotiations.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will prioritise maintaining access to Horizon 2020 funding for researchers in forthcoming negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
This Government wants the UK to be the go-to place for innovators and investors across the world, and we intend to secure the best possible outcome for the UK research base as we exit the European Union.
As the Prime Minister has said, we would welcome an agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives. We have been clear that we want to create an environment in which the UK as a whole can continue to be a world leader in research, science and the tertiary education sector more broadly.
UK businesses and universities 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.
Whatever happens in the future, the Government is committed to ensuring the UK remains a world leader in international research and innovation.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether his Department has examined the case of Switzerland's readmission into the Horizon 2020 programme ahead of forthcoming negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government is aware of the readmission of Switzerland to Horizon 2020.
Officials across Government are carrying out a programme of sectoral and regulatory analysis, which will identify the key factors for UK businesses and the labour force that will affect our negotiations with the EU. They are looking in detail at over 50 sectors as well as cross-cutting regulatory issues. This work includes looking at science and research.
As the Prime Minister has said, we would welcome an agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives.