April 20, 2016

house of lords report: EU membership- good or bad for UK science?

The EU Referendum continues to dominate the airwaves as Britain prepares itself to vote on the 23 June, and there has been a lot of back and forth about what impact an exit could have on the UK and what a post-EU Britain would look like. Science and innovation is a major thread in this debate. On Wednesday 20 April, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee published its report on the relationship between EU membership and the effectiveness of UK science.

The committee inquired into how a possible British exit from the EU would impact on UK science and the scientific community, including how research funding, collaborations, and regulation might have to change.

Journalists came to the SMC to hear members of the committee answer questions such as:

• What are the financial contributions the EU makes to UK science and vice versa?
• How effectively are these funds managed in the EU compared to the management of science funding in the UK?
• How is private investment in UK science and research influenced by EU membership
• How do key EU regulatory mechanisms directly affect the science and research community in the UK?
• How does the quality and effectiveness of scientific advice on matters of public policy compare between the EU and the UK?

Speakers:

Lord Selborne, Chair, House of Lords Science and Technology Committee

Baroness Morgan of Huyton, House of Lords Science and Technology Committee

Lord Hennessy, House of Lords Science and Technology Committee

Lord Vallance, House of Lords Science and Technology Committee