Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many body bags have been stockpiled under the Operation Yellowhammer in preparation for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Department, as part of its overall, multi-layered continuity of supply programme, is building a Centralised Stock Build (CSB) of medical devices and clinical consumables that have an European Union/European Economic Area touchpoint in their supply chains. This stock build is being led and managed by NHS Supply Chain (Supply Chain Coordination Limited).
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the benefits to the UK of complying with EU regulation for medicines after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The United Kingdom is fully committed to continuing the close working relationship with our European partners, and as part of the negotiations the Government will discuss with the European Union and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation (including with the European Medicines Agency).
Our aim is to ensure that patients in the UK and across the EU continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines, and be assured that their safety is protected through the strongest regulatory framework and sharing of data. Whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations, we are clear that our regulatory system that protects the best interests of patients and supports the UK life science industry to go from strength to strength.
We are in regular contact with the pharmaceutical industry through the Ministerial and industry co-chaired UK-European Union Life Sciences Steering Group. Outside of this group we have consistent contact with industry and research charities.
As a member of the Cabinet, the Secretary of State has regular discussions with all Cabinet colleagues, including on Brexit.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on the UK remaining in the EU Medicines Agency and complying with EU regulations for medicines after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The United Kingdom is fully committed to continuing the close working relationship with our European partners, and as part of the negotiations the Government will discuss with the European Union and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation (including with the European Medicines Agency).
Our aim is to ensure that patients in the UK and across the EU continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines, and be assured that their safety is protected through the strongest regulatory framework and sharing of data. Whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations, we are clear that our regulatory system that protects the best interests of patients and supports the UK life science industry to go from strength to strength.
We are in regular contact with the pharmaceutical industry through the Ministerial and industry co-chaired UK-European Union Life Sciences Steering Group. Outside of this group we have consistent contact with industry and research charities.
As a member of the Cabinet, the Secretary of State has regular discussions with all Cabinet colleagues, including on Brexit.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representations he has had from the pharmaceutical industry on remaining in the EU Medicines Agency and complying with EU regulations after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The United Kingdom is fully committed to continuing the close working relationship with our European partners, and as part of the negotiations the Government will discuss with the European Union and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation (including with the European Medicines Agency).
Our aim is to ensure that patients in the UK and across the EU continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines, and be assured that their safety is protected through the strongest regulatory framework and sharing of data. Whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations, we are clear that our regulatory system that protects the best interests of patients and supports the UK life science industry to go from strength to strength.
We are in regular contact with the pharmaceutical industry through the Ministerial and industry co-chaired UK-European Union Life Sciences Steering Group. Outside of this group we have consistent contact with industry and research charities.
As a member of the Cabinet, the Secretary of State has regular discussions with all Cabinet colleagues, including on Brexit.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of leaving the EU on access to existing medicines in the NHS.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The United Kingdom is fully committed to continuing the close working relationship with our European partners, and as part of the negotiations the Government will discuss with the European Union and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation (including with the European Medicines Agency).
Our aim is to ensure that patients in the UK and across the EU continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines, and be assured that their safety is protected through the strongest regulatory framework and sharing of data. Whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations, we are clear that our regulatory system that protects the best interests of patients and supports the UK life science industry to go from strength to strength.
We are in regular contact with the pharmaceutical industry through the Ministerial and industry co-chaired UK-European Union Life Sciences Steering Group. Outside of this group we have consistent contact with industry and research charities.
As a member of the Cabinet, the Secretary of State has regular discussions with all Cabinet colleagues, including on Brexit.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on access to medicines (a) in the event of a no deal Brexit and (b) during a transitionary period.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The United Kingdom is fully committed to continuing the close working relationship with our European partners, and as part of the negotiations the Government will discuss with the European Union and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation (including with the European Medicines Agency).
Our aim is to ensure that patients in the UK and across the EU continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines, and be assured that their safety is protected through the strongest regulatory framework and sharing of data. Whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations, we are clear that our regulatory system that protects the best interests of patients and supports the UK life science industry to go from strength to strength.
We are in regular contact with the pharmaceutical industry through the Ministerial and industry co-chaired UK-European Union Life Sciences Steering Group. Outside of this group we have consistent contact with industry and research charities.
As a member of the Cabinet, the Secretary of State has regular discussions with all Cabinet colleagues, including on Brexit.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what preparations his Department is making for the availability of medicines in the NHS in (a) the event of a no deal Brexit and (b) during a transitionary period.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The United Kingdom is fully committed to continuing the close working relationship with our European partners, and as part of the negotiations the Government will discuss with the European Union and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation (including with the European Medicines Agency).
Our aim is to ensure that patients in the UK and across the EU continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines, and be assured that their safety is protected through the strongest regulatory framework and sharing of data. Whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations, we are clear that our regulatory system that protects the best interests of patients and supports the UK life science industry to go from strength to strength.
We are in regular contact with the pharmaceutical industry through the Ministerial and industry co-chaired UK-European Union Life Sciences Steering Group. Outside of this group we have consistent contact with industry and research charities.
As a member of the Cabinet, the Secretary of State has regular discussions with all Cabinet colleagues, including on Brexit.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the effect of the proposed customs checks for medicines entering from the EU after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Steve Brine
My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular meetings with the Home Secretary on a range of topics.
The United Kingdom’s priority is to negotiate a future customs arrangement that ensures cross-border trade is as frictionless as possible and which, crucially, avoids a hard border – limiting the potential for delays at relevant entry points such as the Channel Tunnel and Dover. Following detailed and extensive work on all the options, the Government has set out the two approaches that most closely meet our objective to protect patients: one is a highly streamlined customs arrangement; the other is a new customs partnership with the European Union.
The Government has also started working on our domestic preparations. The Government is on course to having a functioning customs service on ‘Day One’ after our withdrawal from the EU, with suitable plans in place to ensure that supplies of priority goods are maintained.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the benefits to the UK of remaining in the EU Medicines Agency after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The United Kingdom is fully committed to continuing the close working relationship with our European partners, and as part of the negotiations the Government will discuss with the European Union and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation (including with the European Medicines Agency).
Our aim is to ensure that patients in the UK and across the EU continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines, and be assured that their safety is protected through the strongest regulatory framework and sharing of data. Whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations, we are clear that our regulatory system that protects the best interests of patients and supports the UK life science industry to go from strength to strength.
We are in regular contact with the pharmaceutical industry through the Ministerial and industry co-chaired UK-European Union Life Sciences Steering Group. Outside of this group we have consistent contact with industry and research charities.
As a member of the Cabinet, the Secretary of State has regular discussions with all Cabinet colleagues, including on Brexit.
Asked by: Jonathan Edwards (Independent - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representations he has had from the pharmaceutical industry on remaining in the EU Medicines Agency and complying with EU regulations after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The United Kingdom is fully committed to continuing the close working relationship with our European partners, and as part of the negotiations the Government will discuss with the European Union and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation (including with the European Medicines Agency).
Our aim is to ensure that patients in the UK and across the EU continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines, and be assured that their safety is protected through the strongest regulatory framework and sharing of data. Whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations, we are clear that our regulatory system that protects the best interests of patients and supports the UK life science industry to go from strength to strength.
We are in regular contact with the pharmaceutical industry through the Ministerial and industry co-chaired UK-European Union Life Sciences Steering Group. Outside of this group we have consistent contact with industry and research charities.
As a member of the Cabinet, the Secretary of State has regular discussions with all Cabinet colleagues, including on Brexit.