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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of leaving the EU on university research.

There will be no immediate changes to our relationship with the EU. EU law continues to apply to and within the UK, covering both rights and obligations, including those that apply to students, researchers, and businesses.

The UK economy is fundamentally strong and our research and innovation are world leading. The Government is committed to maintaining and enhancing the strength of our research base, which is why at the Spending Review we committed to protect the science budget in real terms, and protect the funding that flows through Innovate UK in cash terms.