Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that new free trade agreements after the UK leaves the EU do not (a) lower standards in and (b) privatise NHS services.

Protecting the NHS is of the utmost importance and the UK Government’s position is that the NHS is not, and never will be, for sale to the private sector, whether overseas or domestic. The NHS is protected by specific exceptions and reservations in EU trade agreements, including the recent EU-Canada agreement (CETA). As we leave the EU, the UK will continue to ensure that rigorous protections for the NHS are included in trade agreements it is party to, whether transitioned from an EU context or as a result of new negotiations.