Vote Leave campaigners today sought to reassure organisations currently receiving funding from the European Union that their money would be “safe” if there is a Brexit.
Thirteen government ministers and senior Conservatives have signed an open letter stressing existing projects would not be put at risk.
They claim there is “more than enough” money to ensure those who now get funding from the EU – including universities, scientists, family farmers, regional funds and cultural organisations – would continue to do so.
And they insist EU programmes in the UK would continue to be funded until 2020 or up to the date they are due to conclude if that is sooner.
Among the signatories are former London mayor Boris Johnson, Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Employment Minister Priti Patel.
Their letter reads: “It is important that people and organisations now receiving funding from the EU know that their funding is safe if we Vote Leave on June 23.
“Many areas have seen recent falls in EU funding. The value of agricultural support is in decline and EU structural funds have been cut back significantly.
“The real danger to current recipients of funding from the EU institutions is that if we vote to remain, the EU will further reduce their funding.
“After protecting those now in receipt of EU funding, we will still have billions more to spend on our priorities.”
The letter proposes spending “at least” £5.5billion on the NHS by 2020, equivalent to a “£100million per week cash transfusion”.
It also suggests using £1.7billion to abolish VAT on household energy bills.
The letter continues: “There are of course some benefits from the EU. There are also many other costs, direct and indirect, of EU membership on top of our official contributions to the EU’s budget.
“It is clear that if we Vote Leave we can take back control of British taxpayers’ money, protect funding for those who now get it from the EU, and improve the funding mechanisms so that money saved gets to the frontline.
“In particular it is clear that scientists and universities should expect that funding will be much more generous after we take back control and give them the priority they deserve, and which is so important for learning and scholarship as well as our future prosperity and security.”
Others who have signed the letter include former work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith and Fishing Minister George Eustice.