MillionPlus comment on the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee’s Brexit report

MillionPlus, the Association for Modern Universities, has today (20 December) welcomed the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee’s report ‘A time for boldness: EU membership and UK science after the referendum’.

Professor Dave Phoenix, Chair of MillionPlus and Vice-Chancellor of London South Bank University, said:

“This is a timely, diligent report and I welcome its recommendations. Peers are right to warn of the possible dangers to research funding as a result of the vote to leave the European Union. Modern universities will strongly support the Committee’s recommendation that the government should re-base the science budget to fully compensate for any reduction in EU research funding.

“The Committee’s support for international students to be taken out of the migration figures and counted separately is also welcome. International students are hugely beneficial to the UK and opinion polls have confirmed that the British public do not regard these students as migrants. Government proposals to introduce a differentiated visa regime will undermine the reputation of UK universities and their capacity to trade internationally.

“The future status of EU students is a key question going forward and Ministers must make clear how they intend to maintain this market in advance of any Brexit negotiations.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. MillionPlus is the Association for Modern Universities. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk
2. Modern universities: key facts
3. A time for boldness: EU membership and UK science after the referendum is published on 20 December and is available here
4. Professor Dave Phoenix gave evidence to the Committee on 13 September. The session is available to watch here
5. For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Dan Blows on 020 7717 1658 or email press@millionplus.ac.uk