Sir Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Researchers at Risk programme, organised by the British Academy in collaboration with the Council for At-Risk Academics and other UK National Academies, in rescuing and supporting researchers from Ukraine; and if he will make it his policy to help expand the programme to cover academics from other countries where they face serious risk.  [12885]

[Due for Answer on 8 February]

ANSWER

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe (Leo Docherty): More than 170 Ukrainian academics have been supported in the UK under the 'Researchers at Risk' programme, launched in March 2022. £3 million was initially allocated to the programme. A further £9.8 million, announced by the Government in June 2022, helped it to expand significantly to meet demand. The first priority of the programme was to enable Ukraine-based researchers to continue their research at UK institutions, whether they were fleeing the conflict or already in the UK and unable to return home. The Academy hopes to open the scheme more widely, when possible, subject to funding.