Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions officials in his Department have had with representatives from Knowsley Borough Council on preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

The Department is working with its partners across Government, arm’s length bodies, local authorities, industry and the wider health and care system to ensure that all relevant parties are prepared for exiting the European Union. The quality and safety of patient care is paramount in our preparedness plans.

In August 2019 the Department published up-to-date guidance on GOV.UK on what local authorities can do to prepare for leaving the EU. This covers a range of issues including workforce, business continuity planning, data sharing, and the continuity of supply of medicines, medical devices and clinical consumables, and of non-clinical goods and services, it also provides key contact information and signposts where local authorities and providers can go for further support. We continue to work closely with the health and social care sector to ensure that this guidance is accurate, practical and up-to-date.