Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that licensing for new drugs in the UK is not slowed down by the UK leaving the EU and the European Medicines Agency.

In July last year the Government set out three principles which will underpin the development of a post-Brexit regulatory system for medicines and devices: patients should not be disadvantaged; innovators should be able to access the United Kingdom market as quickly and simply as possible; and we will continue to play a leading role in both Europe and the world in promoting public health.

As the Prime Minister has stated, the UK is fully committed to continuing the close working relationship with our European partners. In this context, the UK will be working with the European Union to agree how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation, for the benefit of public health and safety in both the UK and the EU Member States.