Baroness Thomas of Winchester – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2016-07-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the result of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU, what plans they have for maintaining the UK’s status as a leader in EU and international collaboration on research into rare diseases such as muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular conditions.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
The Government recognises the importance of our research base, which is why we have protected the ring fenced science resource budget in real terms from its current level of £4.7bn for the rest of the parliament. Programmes such as the £1.5bn Global Challenges Research Fund and the £1bn Ross Fund will support the UK’s status as a global leader in medical research.
The Global Challenges Research Fund will mobilise the UK’s world leading research base to address key challenges facing developing countries, including in health research. The Ross Fund will develop, test and deliver a range of new products (including vaccines, drugs and diagnostics) to help combat the world’s most serious diseases in developing countries.
The referendum result has no immediate effect on the right of researchers to apply to or participate in EU research programmes. UK participants can continue to apply to the programmes in the usual way. The future of UK access to these programmes will be determined as part of a wider discussion with the EU.
