Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what contingency plans his Department has to mitigate (a) staff and (b) pharmaceutical shortages in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The Department continues to monitor and analyse overall staffing levels in the health and social care sectors and we have been monitoring leaver and joiner rates of European Union staff on a regular basis since the 2016 referendum. While we do not expect our exit from the EU to lead to a significant number of health staff leaving on or around exit day, we are not complacent and are continually monitoring staffing levels and working with other Government Departments and local areas to put in place mechanisms to respond to any shortages.
We hugely value the contribution of EU staff working in health and social care and the Government has made it clear that we want them to stay. That is why EU staff in health and social care have had early access to the EU Settlement Scheme since December 2018, allowing them to secure their rights to live and work in the United Kingdom. In March 2019, we put in place legislation that ensures the continued recognition of qualifications from EU countries by all professional regulators covering the health and social care sectors. This means EU staff who are currently practising in the UK can continue to do so, and that professionals qualified in the European Economic Area and Switzerland can continue to apply for registration after ‘exit day’, even if we leave without a ‘deal’.
Furthermore, the NHS Long Term Plan sets out a vital strategic framework to ensure that over the next 10 years the National Health Service will have the staff it needs, so that nurses and doctors can administer the expert compassionate care they are committed to providing. Baroness Dido Harding, Chair of NHS Improvement, working closely with Sir David Behan, Chair of Health Education England, will lead a number of programmes to develop a detailed workforce implementation plan. Baroness Harding and Sir David will present these initial recommendations to the Department this spring.
On medicines, the Department has been working closely with trade bodies, product suppliers, the NHS in England, and the devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies, to ensure the continuation of the supply of medicines to the whole of the UK in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit. This includes the NHS, social care and the independent sector and covers licensed medicines (prescription only, pharmacy and general sales list medicines) and unlicensed medicines (specials, investigational medicinal products and UK imports).
The Department, together with industry and the NHS, has analysed the supply chains of 12,300 medicines and we are grateful for excellent engagement from all parties, which means our plans are well advanced. As a result of this analysis, the Department has put in place a multi-layered approach to minimise any supply disruption.
We are confident that, if everyone does what they need to do, the supply of medicines and medical products will be uninterrupted in the event of exiting the EU without a deal.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2019 to Question 236355, on EU Budget: Contributions, what the Government's legal obligations are in relation to the financial settlement with the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
In the event that we leave the EU without a deal, the financial settlement as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement would no longer apply.
The Government recognises that the UK has obligations to the EU, and the EU obligations to the UK, that will survive the UK’s withdrawal—and that these need to be resolved. But in a no deal scenario we would need to determine how to do so.
Asked by: Vince Cable (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representations he has received from charities on travel insurance for disabled people and people with existing conditions in the event that the arrangements in place for the European Health Insurance Card come to an end after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
On 19 March 2019, I laid a written ministerial statement (HCWS1429) on the Department’s plans for the continuity of reciprocal healthcare arrangements in the event we exit the European Union without a deal. This statement includes specific guidance on European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs).
The Department recognises that people with some pre-existing conditions rely on the EHIC to be able to travel. In a no deal scenario, these may no longer be valid in some EU Member States, and in European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states for those visitors not in scope of the EFTA Citizens’ Rights Agreements and travelling after exit day.
The United Kingdom Government has proposed to EU Member States and EFTA states that we should maintain the existing healthcare arrangements, including an EHIC type arrangement with similar benefits, in a no deal scenario until 31 December 2020, with the aim of minimising disruption to UK nationals and EU and EFTA state citizens’ healthcare provision. However, it is not possible for the UK Government to guarantee access unilaterally to healthcare abroad, as this depends on reciprocity from Member States.
The Department has advised UK nationals living in or travelling to EU Member States to check up to date information on GOV.UK and NHS.UK and ensure they have taken the necessary steps to prepare. This information is available on the following links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/overseas-living-in-guides
It is already the case that we advise people to obtain comprehensive travel insurance when working, studying or travelling to the EU and the rest of the world. This will remain our advice in all circumstances. When travelling abroad, individuals are responsible for ensuring their travel insurance covers their healthcare needs.
The Department has engaged closely with partners such as the Association of British Travel Insurers and organisations representing people with long-term health conditions, such as Kidney Care UK and the British Lung Foundation, to understand the impacts on some patient groups with long-term conditions, as well as to help develop the Healthcare (European Economic Area and Switzerland Arrangements) Act 2019. This legislation will provide us with the power to fund and implement comprehensive reciprocal healthcare arrangements after we leave the EU.
Asked by: Vince Cable (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the affordability of travel insurance for (a) disabled people and (b) people with existing conditions in the event that UK citizens are no longer eligible for the European Health Insurance Card after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
On 19 March 2019, I laid a written ministerial statement (HCWS1429) on the Department’s plans for the continuity of reciprocal healthcare arrangements in the event we exit the European Union without a deal. This statement includes specific guidance on European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs).
The Department recognises that people with some pre-existing conditions rely on the EHIC to be able to travel. In a no deal scenario, these may no longer be valid in some EU Member States, and in European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states for those visitors not in scope of the EFTA Citizens’ Rights Agreements and travelling after exit day.
The United Kingdom Government has proposed to EU Member States and EFTA states that we should maintain the existing healthcare arrangements, including an EHIC type arrangement with similar benefits, in a no deal scenario until 31 December 2020, with the aim of minimising disruption to UK nationals and EU and EFTA state citizens’ healthcare provision. However, it is not possible for the UK Government to guarantee access unilaterally to healthcare abroad, as this depends on reciprocity from Member States.
The Department has advised UK nationals living in or travelling to EU Member States to check up to date information on GOV.UK and NHS.UK and ensure they have taken the necessary steps to prepare. This information is available on the following links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/overseas-living-in-guides
It is already the case that we advise people to obtain comprehensive travel insurance when working, studying or travelling to the EU and the rest of the world. This will remain our advice in all circumstances. When travelling abroad, individuals are responsible for ensuring their travel insurance covers their healthcare needs.
The Department has engaged closely with partners such as the Association of British Travel Insurers and organisations representing people with long-term health conditions, such as Kidney Care UK and the British Lung Foundation, to understand the impacts on some patient groups with long-term conditions, as well as to help develop the Healthcare (European Economic Area and Switzerland Arrangements) Act 2019. This legislation will provide us with the power to fund and implement comprehensive reciprocal healthcare arrangements after we leave the EU.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking ensure that the maintenance of food of comparable quality from overseas without tariffs after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Hollingbery
In the event that the UK leaves the EU under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, there will be an implementation period during which tariffs remain unchanged. Should the UK leave the EU without a deal, the UK will implement a temporary tariff as announced on 13 March 2019. This is a balanced tariff policy which aims to minimise costs to business and mitigate price impacts on consumers, while also supporting UK producers as far as possible.
The applied tariff does not affect what food is eligible be imported into the UK. The Government is committed in all exit scenarios to upholding the UK’s high food safety, environmental, and animal welfare standards.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to raise public awareness that (1) drivers travelling in the EU after 29 March may need to obtain a Green Card from their insurers before departure, and (2) those using trailers may need to ask the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency whether they need to register their trailer, and ask their insurers whether they need to obtain a separate Green Card for that trailer.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government has provided guidance to motorists travelling in the EU after 29 March through various channels.
The technical notice ‘Vehicle Insurance if there’s no Brexit Deal’ was published in September 2018. It outlines that, in the event of ‘no deal’ and the European Commission not taking a decision to allow the UK to remain in the Green Card-free area, drivers of UK registered vehicles will need to carry a motor insurance Green Card when driving in the EU and EEA. The guidance also encourages UK registered drivers towing a trailer to contact their insurer to obtain two Green Cards, one for their trailer and one for their towing vehicle.
Guidance has also been published on trailer registration. UK motorists must register commercial trailers weighing over 750kg and non-commercial trailers weighing over 3,500kg before they can travel to or through most EU and EEA countries. UK motorists can also voluntarily register non-commercial trailers that weigh over 750kg. The Government issued new communications in February 2019, which echoed the guidance in the technical notice. The campaign is live with radio, digital ads and social media directing citizens to gov.uk.
We continue to work constructively with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, the Association of British Insurers and the rest of the insurance industry to ensure motorists are aware of these messages and are prepared for a ‘no deal’ scenario.
On motor insurance, our intention is to remain part of the Green Card-free circulation area as the UK will continue to meet all of the requirements when we leave the EU. This would allow UK drivers to continue to be able to drive in EU Member States without the need for a Green Card. We continue to urge the Commission to issue a decision on the UK’s membership in the Green Card-free circulation zone.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2019 to Question 226647 on Medical Treatments, whether suppliers have confirmed that they have plans in place to air freight short shelf-life medicines, including medical radioisotopes, to avoid any border delays that may arise in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
Our number one priority is for patients to continue to have access to medicines, including medical radioisotopes, whatever the European Union exit outcome, and we have robust contingency plans in place.
Leaving the EU with a deal remains the Government’s top priority. However, as a responsible Government we must plan for every possible outcome including ‘no deal’. The Department has published guidance to industry and the health and care system to allow them to make informed plans and preparations. This is available on GOV.UK.
The Department has been working with industry to ensure that air freight is contracted to maintain continuity of supply for certain short shelf-life products, including medical radioisotopes, in the initial period following 29 March 2019 should the United Kingdom leave the EU without a deal.
Throughout enacting our plans, the response from industry has been extremely positive. Industry shares our aims of ensuring continuity of medicines’ supply for patients is maintained and that companies are able to cope with any potential delays at the border that may arise in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
We are confident that if everyone does what they need to do, the supply of medicines and other medical products will be uninterrupted.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to ensure that any items in stock in charity shops on 29 March 2019 are not required to change their CE labels to bespoke UK labels in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government has taken the decision, in the event that we leave the EU without a deal, to provide continuity to minimise disruption to businesses and consumers. This means that goods with a CE Marking can still be sold in the UK for a time-limited period after 29 March 2019 without any need for relabelling, so long as they meet the relevant EU rules. Charity shops will not need to relabel CE-marked items in stock on 29 March 2019.
In terms of goods in stock that are second-hand, these already do not generally require relabelling as long as they met the relevant rules at the time they were first sold, and as long as the retailer ensures they remain safe.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what plans he has to negotiate a separate transition period with the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Implementation Period - as set out in Part Four of the Withdrawal Agreement - is intended to give businesses and citizens certainty. Without a Withdrawal Agreement, there can be no Implementation Period. That is why we are working with the EU so Parliament can support a deal and the UK can leave the EU in a smooth and orderly way on 29 March 2019.
Asked by: Luciana Berger (Liberal Democrat - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what contingency plans his Department has in place to ensure that reciprocal healthcare arrangements stay in place for UK citizens living in European countries following the UK leaving the EU (a) with and (b) without an agreement.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The United Kingdom Government appreciates the importance of retaining reciprocal healthcare arrangements with the European Union and has been clear in the negotiations that it wants to protect the rights of UK citizens in the EU. Extensive work to prepare for a ‘no deal’ scenario, including contingency planning, has been under way for over two years and we are taking necessary steps to ensure the country continues to operate smoothly from the day we leave.
Subject to the Withdrawal Agreement being agreed by Parliament, during the implementation period the current rules on reciprocal healthcare will continue until December 2020. The rights of UK nationals living in the EU, and who fall within the scope of the Withdrawal Agreement, will continue to be protected after December 2020, for as long as these individuals remain in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement. This includes state pensioners already benefiting from that cover.
In the event that the UK exits the EU without a deal, EU citizens resident in the UK by 29 March 2019 will be able to stay and continue to access in country benefits and services, including healthcare, on broadly the same terms as now. This demonstrates the UK Government’s ongoing commitment to citizens and removes any ambiguity over their future. We are engaging with EU counterparts to urge them to make the same commitment to protect the rights of UK nationals in the EU.
The reciprocal healthcare system requires reciprocity from the EU or individual Member States and cannot be protected unilaterally. The UK Government is seeking agreements with Member States, so that no individual, including retired UK citizen living in other EU Member States, will face sudden changes to their healthcare cover.
The Government has published updated advice for UK persons resident in countries in the European Economic Area as well as for those wishing to travel to such countries with specific information on potential changes to access to reciprocal healthcare and precautions they may wish to take in the event of a ‘no deal’ scenario.
General information is available on the GOV.UK website and country-specific advice can be found under the relevant sections of NHS.UK as well. This includes guidance for UK citizens living in European countries and suggestions on alternative arrangements they may wish to make, should existing arrangements such as the European Health Insurance Card scheme cease, which appears as a section under the profile of each individual country.
The information provided on these pages will be updated in light of new developments and changing circumstances.