Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) European Commission, (b) European Universities Association and (c) Secretary of State for Education on the future involvement of the UK in the Erasmus+ Programme.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The Government values international exchanges and collaboration in education and training. Future cooperation on education was discussed in the context of negotiations on the Political Declaration, where the UK and the EU agreed to establish terms and conditions for potential UK participation in EU programmes.
The next generation of EU programmes are currently under negotiation in the EU. The Government will make decisions on whether to participate in specific programmes in light of these negotiations and wider UK priorities.
Under the terms of the proposed Withdrawal Agreement, UK entities' right to participate in EU programmes during the current Multiannual Financial Framework period, such as Erasmus+, will be unaffected by the UK's withdrawal from the EU for the lifetime of those projects financed by the current Multiannual Financial Framework.
The Secretary of State regularly discusses EU Exit issues, including future UK participation in EU programmes, with Cabinet colleagues, and the Government is engaging closely with the HE sector and taking action to provide greater certainty.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer to of 4 June 2018 to Question 146757, whether the White Paper will specify the Government's policy on and intention to participate in the EU's Horizon and Erasmus+ programmes during the next funding period beyond which it has already made commitments.
Answered by Robin Walker
The White Paper will cover all aspects of our future relationship with the European Union, building on the ambitious vision set out by the Prime Minister in her speeches in Florence, Munich and Mansion House.
The Prime Minister has been clear that we will continue to take part in specific policies and programmes which are to the UK and the EU’s joint advantage, such as those that promote science, education and culture.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether the Government plans to include sections on (a) higher education and (b) further Education in the forthcoming Brexit White Paper.
Answered by Robin Walker
The White Paper will offer detailed, precise explanations of our position, and set out what will change and what will feel different outside the European Union.
It will cover all aspects of our future relationship with the European Union, building on the ambitious vision set out by the Prime Minister in her speeches in Mansion House, Florence and Munich.
As the Prime Minister said in her Mansion House speech on 2 March, ‘There are many other areas where the UK and EU economies are closely linked – including education and culture.’
And we will continue to take part in specific policies and programmes which are greatly to the UK and the EU’s joint advantage, such as those that promote science, education and culture.