Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing targeted (a) visa and (b) relocation support for American scientists seeking to work in the UK in the fields of (i) cancer and (ii) Alzheimer’s research.

The Immigration White Paper and Modern Industrial Strategy emphasised the importance of enabling high-skilled international researchers to come to the UK with ease, and committed to improvements to key visa routes, including the Global Talent Visa.

The £54 million Global Talent Fund will attract around 60-80 leading researchers across Industrial Strategy sectors including Life Sciences to UK institutions. The Fund includes targeted visa and relocation cost support, and complements existing funding and talent schemes from UKRI, the National Academies and NIHR.

The new Global Talent Taskforce will promote UK strengths and opportunities to exceptional talent, including international Life Sciences talent.