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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2019 to Question 220988 on Research: EU Action, with which stakeholders is he consulting on funding replacements for the (a) European Research Council and (b) Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions; and what the timeframe is for a decision to be announced.

The Department has worked closely with UKRI and engaged with wide range of stakeholders on no deal planning for the Horizon 2020 programme. This includes via the High Level Group on Science and Research

Further updates will be provided on Horizon 2020 no deal planning in due course.

The Government remains committed to ongoing collaboration in research and innovation and wants to work with the EU on a mutually beneficial outcome beyond 2020. The Government wants to have the option to associate to Horizon Europe, depending on the outcome of negotiations

In the event that the UK does not associate to Horizon Europe, the Government is committed to continuing to back UK researchers and innovators by supporting measures to enable world-class collaborative research, including support for small businesses.

We will be seeking independent advice from Sir Adrian Smith on these measures.