Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what is the annual cost of payments to (a) Horizon Europe and (b) Copernicus; and what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the EU’s proposed Multiannual Financial Framework on the cost of UK contributions.

The UK contributes around £2 billion per year to Horizon Europe, providing UK businesses and researchers with access to curiosity driven research funding, world-class collaborations, and opportunities to grow and scale up their innovations. The UK's association agreement includes a mechanism under which the UK would be compensated if UK researchers and innovators receive significantly less funding from the programme than the UK contributes.

The UK's current annual contribution to participate in Copernicus is approximately £130 million per annum, which is tied to annual Gross Domestic Product metrics. This contribution provides UK users with access to Copernicus Earth observation data and services and enables UK organisations to compete for industrial contracts to develop and operate the system and create value-added products and services.

The Government is monitoring discussions on the European Commission's preparations for the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework for the period from 2028. It is not yet possible to provide a definitive estimate of any impact on future UK contributions.