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

To ask Her Majesty's Government when the research sustainability taskforce is expected to publish its recommendations; and what assessment that taskforce has made of the impact of any decrease in income from international students on the ability of higher education institutions to conduct research. [T]

The Taskforce was announced on 4 May. It was created to advise Government on the urgent decisions needed to ensure the university research sector emerges from the pandemic able to contribute to UK society and the economy in the recovery and beyond. It will not produce formal recommendations to government. It will advise government as it seeks to address challenges to the sustainability of university research and knowledge exchange arising from COVID-19 including loss of income from international students.