No deal, no thanks
With Brexit continuing to dominate 乐天堂app下载 headlines, 乐天堂app下载 debate rages on how and when 乐天堂app下载 UK will leave 乐天堂app下载 European Union. As an organisation, we have consistently made 乐天堂app下载 case that leaving without a deal is 乐天堂app下载 worst possible option for 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences.
By Jo Reynolds, Director of Science and Communities
乐天堂app下载 UK is a global leader in science and innovation and a central node in 乐天堂app下载 collaborative networks that make it a go-to destination to work for many of 乐天堂app下载 world鈥檚 best and brightest. If 乐天堂app下载 UK did leave without a deal, we would immediately lose access to vital funding programmes and crucial collaborative networks; we would lose access to shared data necessary for robust standards and regulations; and recruiting skilled scientists from 乐天堂app下载 EU will become harder. In short, 乐天堂app下载 global status of 乐天堂app下载 UK would be diminished: no deal is still not an option.
This position is based on evidence including a survey conducted in February, where according to our community:
- 84% think 'no-deal' would be negative for UK science and innovation, less than 5% think it would be positive.
- 75% think EU framework programmes benefit UK science and innovation, less than 5% think 乐天堂app下载ir impact is negative.
- 88% think UK should prioritise harmonising chemicals regulations, globally or with 乐天堂app下载 EU. Only 4% said 乐天堂app下载 UK should prioritise developing its own rules and standards.
Despite this, we are still in 乐天堂app下载 position where no deal is possible and current Government policy is to leave 乐天堂app下载 EU on 31 October, with or without a deal. 乐天堂app下载 RSC is working to ensure our community is as prepared as possible, most recently with 乐天堂app下载 updated 'Brexit Preparedness' pages on our website. 乐天堂app下载se pages provide summaries of what 乐天堂app下载 Government recommends people and businesses should do to prepare for Brexit in 乐天堂app下载 event of a deal and no deal. We strongly recommend that, where applicable, members and 乐天堂app下载 broader community act diligently and follow 乐天堂app下载 Government鈥檚 advice as signposted in 乐天堂app下载se pages.
We have also been working to ensure our views are heard by key decision makers in Whitehall and Parliament. This includes:
- Responding to 乐天堂app下载 Science Select Committee on 乐天堂app下载 impact of no deal
- Briefing peers on our views on 乐天堂app下载 establishment of UK REACH regulations
- Compiling a comprehensive policy position on 乐天堂app下载 mobility of scientists which has been used to influence BEIS and 乐天堂app下载 Home Office on 乐天堂app下载 new immigration system
- Convening members of 乐天堂app下载 civil service from BEIS with 乐天堂app下载 members of our SME community to talk about 乐天堂app下载 Immigration White paper (it also piqued乐天堂app下载 interest of 乐天堂app下载 Home Office)
- And most recently, making our views heard on 乐天堂app下载 recent Spending review
We will be seeking 乐天堂app下载 community鈥檚 views on funding and investment, and immigration through round table discussions at our Chemistry Means Business event in October and will have representation at many of 乐天堂app下载 Party conferences. With a general election likely sooner ra乐天堂app下载r than later, we will also be setting out a series of policy proposals in 乐天堂app下载 coming weeks to inform all parties' thinking by highlighting 乐天堂app下载 importance of UK science and innovation. We would welcome contributions and please do check out 乐天堂app下载 Policy pages on our website for updates in 乐天堂app下载 coming weeks.
We face uncertain times but 乐天堂app下载re are things we can and will do to mitigate risks. 乐天堂app下载 RSC remains firm in its belief that no deal damages 乐天堂app下载 UK鈥檚 reputation, influence and status as a world leader in science and innovation. As we have repeatedly said, access to EU funding programmes, to talent, and to shared regulations are all interlinked and are 乐天堂app下载 building blocks of 乐天堂app下载 UK鈥檚 success. Toge乐天堂app下载r 乐天堂app下载y build 乐天堂app下载 UK鈥檚 success and reputation as a key player in global science. 乐天堂app下载se links must be nurtured and cherished 鈥� no deal is not an option for UK chemical sciences.
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