Oral Answers to Questions

John McNally Excerpts

Tuesday 23rd July 2019 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[John Mc Nally (Falkirk) (SNP)]

1. What steps he is taking to ensure access to drugs after the UK leaves the EU.

[Douglas Chapman (Dunfermline and West Fife) (SNP)]

6. What steps he is taking to ensure access to drugs after the UK leaves the EU.

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Matt Hancock)]

Our highest priority is for patients to continue to have access to medicines and medical products in all Brexit scenarios. As a responsible Government, we will minimise any disruption in our exit, deal or no deal.

On 26 June, we set out our approach to ensuring continuity of supply. I discussed this last week with the head of the NHS, and Professor Keith Willett wrote to all NHS trusts yesterday to advise on no-deal planning.

[John Mc Nally]

Concerned breast cancer charities have asked me and others to ask the Secretary of State if he will confirm to us, and to them, whether he is leasing enough ferry capacity to ship in medicines in the very likely event of shortages in the UK when we leave the EU.

[Matt Hancock]

Yes, we secured the requirements ahead of a potential exit on 29 March, and we are doing the necessary work to ensure that capacity is available, whatever the Brexit scenario, on 31 October.