Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that tariffs are not levied on the import of EU produced medical devices after the UK has left the EU.

The Government’s White Paper that was published in July 2018, 'The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union', sets out the UK’s vision for a bold, ambitious and innovative new partnership with the EU. The White Paper makes proposals for a free trade area between the UK and EU with zero tariffs across all goods, including medical devices and also agricultural, food and fisheries products, with no quotas.

We continue to negotiate to secure a partnership which would allow as frictionless as possible movement of goods between the UK and the EU, without tariffs or other trade barriers. The Government’s White Paper is the best way to achieve this and ensure an ambitious new partnership with the EU, whilst respecting the referendum result and the integrity of the United Kingdom.

We remain confident that a deal can be achieved between the UK and the EU. However, as is our duty as a responsible Government we are preparing for all scenarios. In order to be prepared for such a scenario the Government is considering a range of options for our future tariff regime and will carefully consider the evidence available to us before making a final decision in the interests of UK business, consumers and patients.

The UK has one of the strongest and most productive life sciences sectors in the world. This Government is committed to ensuring a positive outcome for the sector, that enhances competitiveness and builds on the success that we are rightly proud of, as we exit the European Union. We want our deep and special partnership with the EU to include life sciences and to ensure that patients are protected.