Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help make the process of moving geological samples between the UK and the EU (a) faster and (b) easier.

There are no plans at present to amend the regulatory regime.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) is an active member of European GeoSurveys (EGS). The EGS constitution is based on facilitating geological survey collaboration to support development and implementation of EU policy.

As such, BGS is part of a major project with multiple EU geological survey partners to prepare foundational research, knowledge, and data frameworks for a possible Geological Service for Europe. Making available harmonised and accessible transnational geological data is a key element of a future geological service for Europe.