Brexit Negotiations and No Deal Contingency Planning

Daniel Zeichner Excerpts

Tuesday 4th September 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dominic Raab]

I am confident that we will achieve both outcomes, and I welcome the hon. Gentleman’s support.

[Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) (Lab)]

We have learned this week that the European Medicines Agency has cancelled all its contracts with our highly regarded Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. That is not theoretical; that is now. What assessment has the Secretary of State made of the impact on our life sciences sector? Is this an indication of how well it is all going?

[Dominic Raab]

I cannot talk about any specific individual contracts, but I can tell the hon. Gentleman that in life sciences, as across those other areas we prize highly, we have a set of proposals—he will know them from the White Paper, but if he does not, I urge him to look at them—that will make sure we continue our strong co-operation and regulatory co-operation in that regard. In the event of no deal—of course we cannot force the EU to sign a deal; it has to be consensual and something both sides agree—we will have the technical notices, so that the guidance, the regulation and the team are in place to make sure we have as smooth a Brexit as possible in the circumstances.