Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts
Tuesday 18th November 2014

(9 years, 11 months ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord Livingston of Parkhead Portrait Lord Livingston of Parkhead
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The President of the EU, President Barroso, has made it very clear that TTIP is not about lowering standards. It was much the same with the single market which did not, I believe, create lower standards. EU laws and fundamental rights are going to be protected as part of these discussions and in discussions with the US. The US is not seeking to change that, although it regards some of the EU regulations as being too low and it also worries about similar matters.

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Portrait Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)
- Hansard - -

My Lords, does the Minister accept that there is genuine concern that if there is private investment from overseas in our health service and then an incoming Labour Government want to restore it into public financial control, there could be seriously high claims against us which would cause great difficulties? What is being done to ensure that that kind of claim does not cause great difficulties for the NHS in future?

Lord Livingston of Parkhead Portrait Lord Livingston of Parkhead
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I can assure the noble Lord that such claims would not arise because of TTIP, although there may be contractual claims which are a matter of domestic law. CETA, which was mentioned earlier, states:

“The EU reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with regard to the provision of all health services which receive public funding or State support in any form”.

It is quite clear that the decision about how these services are provided is a matter for national and, in the case of the UK, commissioning authorities. It is not going to be decided by TTIP or, indeed, any other trade agreement.