Oral Answers to Questions

Nick Thomas-Symonds Excerpts
Thursday 5th September 2019

(4 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Steve Barclay Portrait Stephen Barclay
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My right hon. Friend will know that concerns have been raised by the industry in respect of that. Pertaining to the answer that I gave a moment ago, existing questions within that market are also a factor. I am very happy to have further discussions with him, as I am with the hon. Member for Redcar (Anna Turley), because a number of issues come into play for that industry.

Nick Thomas-Symonds Portrait Nick Thomas-Symonds (Torfaen) (Lab)
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There is a group of medicines that simply cannot be stockpiled and which rely on an uninterrupted supply of imports. Will the Secretary of State give a 100% guarantee that none of my constituents will suffer a shortage of that type of medicine as a result of a no-deal Brexit?

Steve Barclay Portrait Stephen Barclay
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As I said, we have not only put in place an additional procurement framework in terms of capacity, but we have procured an express freight service to deliver small consignments on a 24-hour basis, and a two-to-four day pallet-delivery service. These issues are being addressed by the Department and a huge amount of work is going on exactly on that issue.