European Council Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

European Council

Catherine West Excerpts
Monday 17th December 2018

(6 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
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I will be very clear with my hon. Friend that the backstop is, as is said in the withdrawal agreement and as was confirmed by the Council conclusions last week, intended to be temporary. Of course, article 50 does not allow for a permanent arrangement to be put in place. The existence of alternative arrangements that would enable us to provide that there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland would ensure either that the backstop need not be used or, if it was used, that it could be replaced quickly by those arrangements.

Catherine West Portrait Catherine West (Hornsey and Wood Green) (Lab)
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What advice does the Prime Minister have for my constituent who is stockpiling insulin? Does she believe that urgent measures need to be put in place for such vital provisions?

Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
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The Department of Health is, of course, making contingency arrangements for no deal. That is part of the preparations that are taking place, and it is entirely right for the Government to do that.