Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his oral statement on 13 July 2020, Official Report, column 1271, on what date was that legal advice presented to his Department.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
In keeping with long-standing convention and practice, details of legal advice are not disclosed.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK maintains access the EU’s RescEU stockpile of (a) ventilators (b) protective masks and (c) other related equipment after the end of the transition period.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Government is committed to ensuring the UK remains a global leader in life sciences and continues to collaborate with European and other countries on scientific research. At the end of the UK transition period, clinical trials will continue to be approved at a national level, working to international standards as they are now. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) along with partners in the UK healthcare system, has taken steps to ensure that all trials, including multinational trials, can continue. The UK is collaborating extensively with international partners in the research effort against COVID-19 and we will continue to do so after the end of the UK transition period.
The UK’s approach to the future relationship negotiations sets out our ambition to reach an agreement that would facilitate trade in medicinal products. However, any responsible Government has a duty to prepare for all scenarios and have robust contingency plans in place. We continue to hold stockpiles to cope with a range of scenarios.
We are doing everything we can to ensure our health and social care staff have the equipment they need to tackle Covid-19 virus. Sourcing sufficient PPE is an international challenge and we are working with many international partners, including the EU. In terms of ventilators, as a result of the Ventilator Challenge the NHS has significantly increased supply.