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Written question asked by Chi Onwurah (Labour) on Wednesday, 22 February 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 February 2023 (named day). It was answered by James Cartlidge (Conservative) on Monday, 27 February 2023 on behalf of the Treasury.

Euratom and Horizon Europe: Finance

Question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to reallocate the £1.6bn of funding allocated to Horizon and Euratom association for the financial year 2022-2023.

Answer

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK is a Science Superpower. This is why, despite the challenging fiscal circumstances, the Chancellor recommitted at Autumn Statement 2022 to increase R&D spending to £20 billion in 24/25, a 30% cash increase from 2021/22 (the largest ever increase over a Spending Review period).

At Spending Review 2021, the Government set aside funding for the cost of associating to EU R&D programmes (Horizon, Euratom Research & Training and Fusion 4 Energy, and Copernicus), which was agreed with the EU in the December 2020 Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Unfortunately, the EU has delayed the formalisation of the UK’s association due to the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Our priority has been to support the UK R&D sector during this period of uncertainty. To mitigate EU delays, we have introduced the Horizon Guarantee as well as £684m of additional support for the R&D, fusion and Earth observation sectors.

The UK remains open to association to Horizon based on fair and reasonable terms and that the UK will only pay for the period of association to a programme. Any funding required for association in future years will be made available when there is clarity on UK association to EU programmes.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
150475
Session
2022-23
Related items
Research: Finance
Monday, 4 December 2023
Written questions
House of Commons
Research: Finance
Monday, 4 December 2023
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Finance Euratom Horizon Europe
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk