Sir Mike Penning welcomes the deal which will allow the UK’s scientists, researchers and businesses to participate in Horizon Europe and seeks a meeting with the Science Minister to discuss funding for research into the ultra-rare condition fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.
Sir Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead) (Con)
I congratulate the Secretary of State and her Science Minister on a fantastic deal, which the scaremongers said could never happen. They said that we had to take what we were offered. We did not, and we have an excellent deal. Later today, I hope that the Science Minister will respond to a debate that I will lead on fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, a terrible genetic condition where muscle turns to bone, restricting the life chances of so many people, including some of my constituents who are here. There was a Horizon project looking into this, but it was suspended because of covid. Will we be allowed to go back into that, even though we have had this period of time out, or is that something that the Science Minister would like to write to me about?
The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Michelle Donelan)
The Science Minister has agreed to meet with our right hon. Friend and discuss this at great length.