Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Caroline Lucas and Lord Watts

Tuesday 21st October 2014 Commons Chamber

[Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) (Green)]

1. What progress he has made on negotiations relating to the potential effect of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on the NHS.

[Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North) (Lab)]

6. What assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on NHS services.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (George Freeman)]

The Government’s aim and my central mission as the new Minister for life sciences is to accelerate access for NHS patients to the very latest diagnostic devices and drugs by making the UK the best place in the world in which to develop innovative treatments. The US is a world leader in medical technology and TTIP will help NHS patients get faster access to those innovations. Let me be clear: the treaty excludes the NHS from binding commitments. Parliament will retain sovereignty over how we organise and fund our health system and NHS England is free to decide how best to commission NHS services in the clinical interests of local patients, as it does today.