Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the maintenance of the UK’s position as an international leader in illicit tobacco control after the UK leaves the EU; and what plans he has to implement the provisions of the WHO FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The government recognises that the trade in illicit tobacco is a global problem that requires a global solution. On 27 June 2018, the UK ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Protocol, an important international agreement that promotes a framework of regulation and cooperation to tackle the illicit trade.
The government remains fully committed to the Protocol and to working with other Parties, including the EU Commission, to ensure its global implementation. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will continue to take an active role supporting the FCTC Secretariat’s work programme, sharing expertise and supporting other Parties work towards implementation.
Parliament passed legislation to implement all compulsory elements of the Protocol prior to the UK’s ratification. A track and trace system, as required by Article 8 of the Protocol, is being introduced under requirements of the Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40.
In addition, HMRC continues to maintain its worldwide network of Fiscal Crime Liaison Officers (FCLOs), who work with overseas authorities to tackle tobacco smuggling. They particularly focus on facilitating upstream seizures of illicit tobacco destined for the UK and remain an integral part of HMRC’s anti-illicit strategy.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
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 the UK remains a world leader for the treatment of rare diseases after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The Government is committed to the safe and effective regulation of medicines in the United Kingdom; ensuring patients and the public have fast access to new, innovative medicines, including medicines for rare diseases.
The agreement of an implementation period will ensure that access to medicines continues, and patient safety is maintained, in both the UK and European Union markets. Beyond that, the Political Declaration sets out a plan for a free trade area for goods, underpinned by deep regulatory co-operation, as well as a joint commitment to explore close cooperation with the European Medicines Agency.
The Government also continues to prepare for the unlikely outcome that we leave the EU without any deal in March 2019. The Department has been engaging with all pharmaceutical companies that supply the United Kingdom with pharmacy or prescription-only medicines from, or via, the EU/European Economic Area, on their contingency plans in the event of a no deal EU Exit.
Whatever the exit scenario, we will work to ensure that the UK will remain a world leader for the treatment of rare diseases after the UK leaves the EU, that UK patients are able to access the best and most innovative medicines including medicines for rare diseases and that their safety is protected. The UK life sciences industry has much to offer in creating, developing, trialing and commercialising medicines that will benefit UK patients and strengthen the ability of the UK to compete internationally.
Asked by: Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that there is no disparity in access to treatments for rare diseases between the UK and economically similar countries in Europe.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The Government is committed to the safe and effective regulation of medicines in the United Kingdom; ensuring patients and the public have fast access to new, innovative medicines, including medicines for rare diseases.
The agreement of an implementation period will ensure that access to medicines continues, and patient safety is maintained, in both the UK and European Union markets. Beyond that, the Political Declaration sets out a plan for a free trade area for goods, underpinned by deep regulatory co-operation, as well as a joint commitment to explore close cooperation with the European Medicines Agency.
The Government also continues to prepare for the unlikely outcome that we leave the EU without any deal in March 2019. The Department has been engaging with all pharmaceutical companies that supply the United Kingdom with pharmacy or prescription-only medicines from, or via, the EU/European Economic Area, on their contingency plans in the event of a no deal EU exit.
Whatever the exit scenario, we will continue to ensure that UK patients are able to access the best and most innovative medicines including medicines for rare diseases and that their safety is protected.
Asked by: Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ensure that UK patients with rare diseases will continue to be able to receive access to the highest quality medicines after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The Government is committed to the safe and effective regulation of medicines in the United Kingdom; ensuring patients and the public have fast access to new, innovative medicines, including medicines for rare diseases.
The agreement of an implementation period will ensure that access to medicines continues, and patient safety is maintained, in both the UK and European Union markets. Beyond that, the Political Declaration sets out a plan for a free trade area for goods, underpinned by deep regulatory co-operation, as well as a joint commitment to explore close cooperation with the European Medicines Agency.
The Government also continues to prepare for the unlikely outcome that we leave the European Union without any deal in March 2019. The Department has been engaging with all pharmaceutical companies that supply the United Kingdom with pharmacy or prescription-only medicines from, or via, the EU/European Economic Area (EEA), on their contingency plans in the event of a no deal EU Exit.
Whatever the exit scenario, we will continue to ensure that UK patients are able to access the best and most innovative medicines including medicines for rare diseases and that their safety is protected.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has held with the UK downstream oil industry on its future relationship with the European Chemicals Agency; and what steps he is taking to ensure there is no (a) disruption to UK-EU (i) trade and (ii) investment in chemical substances and (b) additional cost to UK industry after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
We have been engaging with a range of chemical stakeholders, including the UK downstream oil industry, in preparation for the UK leaving the EU. While it would not be appropriate to pre-judge the outcome of the negotiations we will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in chemicals regulation. In her Mansion House speech the Prime Minister said that we will also explore the terms on which the UK could opt to remain part of the European Chemicals Agency.
In the meantime the recent agreement on the implementation period will give businesses certainty that common rules will remain in place until the end of 2020. This means that chemical businesses in the UK can plan with confidence on the basis that they can operate as now throughout the implementation period.