Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the agreed cost is of the image licensing agreement reached with the Australian Government on the use of that country's picture warnings on tobacco products in the event the UK leaves the EU without an agreement; on what date his Department first discussed the potential for a future image licensing agreement with the Australian Government; and if he will publish relevant correspondence on that matter.

The United Kingdom would be unable to continue to use the European Union library for picture warnings in tobacco products in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal. Securing the continued use of these pictures is a subject which can only be discussed as part of the future relationships phase of the EU exit negotiations. The Department holds no cost information or correspondence on this matter.

However, the UK Government has reached an agreement with the Australian Government to license the latter’s picture warnings for tobacco products at no cost, in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

The Department first discussed a potential agreement relating to picture warnings with the Australian Government on 19 April 2018.

We are unable to provide copies of the relevant correspondence as this is confidential information between the United Kingdom and another State.