Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for his policies of the report entitled, Exiting the EU: supplying the health and social care sectors, published by the National Audit Office in September 2019.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
On 27 September the National Audit Office published a report on the readiness of the Department’s ‘no deal’ European Union exit preparations for the supply of medicines and medical products. The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for EU exit. We want to reassure patients that our plans should ensure the supply of medicines and medical products when we leave the EU on 31 October.
As the NAO recognises, the Department, pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers have mounted an unprecedented response in preparing for EU Exit, with substantial stockpiles of medicines, which are increasing by the day. Combined with other measures in the Department’s multi-layered approach, including new transport routes coming online shortly, we are confident that we can help ensure that patients continue to receive the highest quality of care in the same way they do now.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on access to cancer treatment of the UK leaving the EU without an agreement.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. Our plans should ensure the supply of medicines and medical products when we leave the EU on 31 October.
The Department, in consultation with the devolved administrations, has been working with trade bodies, product suppliers, and the health and care system in England to make detailed plans that should ensure continuation of the supply of medical products to the whole of the UK and its Crown Dependencies.
On 26 June, we wrote to suppliers of medicines to the UK from or via the EU or European Economic Area setting out our continuing multi-layered approach to support continuity of supply of medicines and medical products from 31 October.
Further details can be found at the following link:
As with our plans leading up to 29 March, for those medicines that cannot be stockpiled because, for example, they have short shelf-lives, such as medical radioisotopes for use in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, we have asked suppliers to make alternative arrangements, using air freight, which some suppliers are already doing now. We have offered support to companies to arrange this.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many applications his Department has received from UK hauliers for European Council of Ministers for Transport international driving permits; how many of those licences are available; and how many of those licences have been issued.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK had an allocation of 1,610 annual European Conference of Minister of Transport (ECMT) permits and 4,824 short-term permits available for hauliers to use in 2019.
In preparation for leaving the EU in March 2019, 2,145 UK goods vehicle operator licence holders applied for 11,976 ECMT annual permits. 774 annual permits were subsequently issued, with many hauliers declining to take up their allocation. As of 30 August 2019, ECMT permits for use in November and December 2019 are available to purchase.
If we leave the EU without a deal on 31 October 2019, most journeys will be allowed until at least 31 December 2019 under an EU contingency regulation. A small proportion of journeys are not covered by the regulation. The European Commission has on 4 September 2019 published a proposal to extend the regulation until 31 July 2020. The proposal, when combined with the ECMT system, would ensure that 99% of trips to the EU could continue to operate as they currently do for the first four months of the Regulation.
UK hauliers who need to transit the EU/EEA to third countries or who carry out three cross-trade movements within seven days can now apply for short-term permits via the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s digital service for journeys during November and December 2019.
The UK also has historic bilateral agreements and it is our view that the majority of them would revive in an absence of an EU wide measure.
Asked by: Paul Farrelly (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to issue guidance on the European Temporary Leave to Remain immigration system for (a) prospective migrants to the UK and (b) employers.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
When the UK leaves the European Union on 31 October, free movement as it currently stands will end, if the UK leaves without a deal. The details of new immigration arrangements for EU citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit were announced on 4 September (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-09-04/HCWS1817/).
To remain in the UK after 2020, EU citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit, and their close family members, will be able to apply for European Temporary Leave to Remain. Under this scheme EU citizens will be granted a period of 36 months’ leave to remain in the UK, which will provide them and their employers, with greater confidence and certainty during the transitional period before the new points-based immigration system is introduced from January 2021.
The rights of EU citizens resident in the UK before Brexit are unchanged and will be protected by the status they can obtain under the EU Settlement Scheme, as more than one million of them have already done. They will have at least until 31 December 2020 to make an application under that scheme.
Until the new points-based immigration system is introduced in 2021, EU citizens will be able to prove their right to take up employment, as now, by using their passport or national identity card. Alternatively, those with status under the EU Settlement Scheme or with European Temporary Leave to Remain may choose to use the Home Office on-line checking service to demonstrate their entitlement. When the new points-based immigration system is introduced from January 2021, employers will need to check that, in respect of any new recruitment, an EU citizen has a valid UK immigration status.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the availability of ongoing radiotherapy treatment in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
As part of a responsible Government, the Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for European Union exit. We want to reassure patients that our plans should ensure the supply of medicines and medical products remains uninterrupted when we leave EU on 31 October.
The Department, in consultation with the devolved administrations, has been working with trade bodies, product suppliers, and the health and care system in England to make detailed plans that should ensure continuation of the supply of medical products, including those for use in radiotherapy, to the whole of the United Kingdom and its Crown Dependencies.
As with our plans leading up to 29 March, for those medicines that cannot be stockpiled because, for example, they have short shelf-lives, such as medical radioisotopes for use in radiotherapy, we have asked suppliers to make alternative arrangements, using airfreight, which some suppliers are already doing now. We have offered support to companies to arrange this.
On 26 June, we wrote to suppliers of medicines to the UK from or via the EU or European Economic Area setting out our continuing multi-layered approach to support continuity of supply of medicines and medical products from 31 October.
Further details can be found at the following link:
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has for training on devolution for the Civil Service.
Answered by Kevin Foster
It has never been more important for civil servants to understand devolution. As we leave the EU a whole range of powers will return from Brussels and the Civil Service must be ready to understand how those powers interact with the devolution settlements.
My department champions devolution capability right across the Civil Service through the flagship Devolution and You programme. Our learning and development offer is extensive, ranging from online training to immersive workshops, work shadowing and written guidance. Departments and devolved administrations also create tailored devolution training on their specific policy areas and priorities.
We are constantly reviewing Devolution and You to develop additional training. For example, we are working right now on enhancing our work shadowing and interchange scheme so more civil servants can spend time directly working in different administrations and different parts of the UK.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to provide clarity to EU nationals living and working in the UK on what they need to do to (a) remain and (b) continue to be able to work in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
When the UK leaves the European Union on 31 October, free movement as it currently stands will end, if the UK leaves without a deal. The details of new immigration arrangements for EU citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit were announced on 4 September (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-09-04/HCWS1817/).
To remain in the UK after 2020, EU citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit, and their close family members, will be able to apply for European Temporary Leave to Remain. Under this scheme, EU citizens will be granted a period of 36 months’ leave to remain in the UK, which will provide them and their employers, with greater confidence and certainty during the transitional period before the new points-based immigration system is introduced from January 2021.
The rights of EU citizens resident in the UK before Brexit are unchanged and will be protected by the status they can obtain under the EU Settlement Scheme, as more than one million of them have already done. They will have at least until 31 December 2020 to make an application under that scheme.
Until the new points-based immigration system is introduced in 2021, EU citizens will be able to prove their right to take up employment, as now, by using their passport or national identity card. Alternatively, those with status under the EU Settlement Scheme or with European Temporary Leave to Remain may choose to use the Home Office on-line checking service to demonstrate their entitlement. When the new points-based immigration system is introduced from January 2021, employers will need to check that, in respect of any new recruitment, an EU citizen has a valid UK immigration status.
The Home Office continues to undertake extensive communications activity with employers. This includes events, webinars, and an online guide to employing EU citizens after Brexit. We have also published an employer toolkit to enable employers to provide reassurance and information to their staff. Advertising and local events are now underway to support the cross-government Get Ready campaign.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to provide information for employers on their obligations towards EU nationals living and working in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
When the UK leaves the European Union on 31 October, free movement as it currently stands will end, if the UK leaves without a deal. The details of new immigration arrangements for EU citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit were announced on 4 September (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-09-04/HCWS1817/).
To remain in the UK after 2020, EU citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit, and their close family members, will be able to apply for European Temporary Leave to Remain. Under this scheme, EU citizens will be granted a period of 36 months’ leave to remain in the UK, which will provide them and their employers, with greater confidence and certainty during the transitional period before the new points-based immigration system is introduced from January 2021.
The rights of EU citizens resident in the UK before Brexit are unchanged and will be protected by the status they can obtain under the EU Settlement Scheme, as more than one million of them have already done. They will have at least until 31 December 2020 to make an application under that scheme.
Until the new points-based immigration system is introduced in 2021, EU citizens will be able to prove their right to take up employment, as now, by using their passport or national identity card. Alternatively, those with status under the EU Settlement Scheme or with European Temporary Leave to Remain may choose to use the Home Office on-line checking service to demonstrate their entitlement. When the new points-based immigration system is introduced from January 2021, employers will need to check that, in respect of any new recruitment, an EU citizen has a valid UK immigration status.
The Home Office continues to undertake extensive communications activity with employers. This includes events, webinars, and an online guide to employing EU citizens after Brexit. We have also published an employer toolkit to enable employers to provide reassurance and information to their staff. Advertising and local events are now underway to support the cross-government Get Ready campaign.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional border checks will be put in place on people moving between the EU and the UK after the UK leaves the EU; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
When the UK leaves the European Union on 31 October, free movement as it currently stands will end, if the UK leaves without a deal. The details of new immigration arrangements for EU citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit were announced on 4 September (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-09-04/HCWS1817/).
To remain in the UK after 2020, EU citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit, and their close family members, will be able to apply for European Temporary Leave to Remain. Under this scheme, EU citizens will be granted a period of 36 months’ leave to remain in the UK, which will provide them and their employers, with greater confidence and certainty during the transitional period before the new points-based immigration system is introduced from January 2021.
The rights of EU citizens resident in the UK before Brexit are unchanged and will be protected by the status they can obtain under the EU Settlement Scheme, as more than one million of them have already done. They will have at least until 31 December 2020 to make an application under that scheme.
Until the new points-based immigration system is introduced in 2021, EU citizens will be able to prove their right to take up employment, as now, by using their passport or national identity card. Alternatively, those with status under the EU Settlement Scheme or with European Temporary Leave to Remain may choose to use the Home Office on-line checking service to demonstrate their entitlement. When the new points-based immigration system is introduced from January 2021, employers will need to check that, in respect of any new recruitment, an EU citizen has a valid UK immigration status.
The Home Office continues to undertake extensive communications activity with employers. This includes events, webinars, and an online guide to employing EU citizens after Brexit. We have also published an employer toolkit to enable employers to provide reassurance and information to their staff. Advertising and local events are now underway to support the cross-government Get Ready campaign.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the impact assessment of the additional border restrictions for people moving between EU Member States and the UK after the UK leaves the EU that were reported on 19 August 2019; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
When the UK leaves the European Union on 31 October, free movement as it currently stands will end, if the UK leaves without a deal. The details of new immigration arrangements for EU citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit were announced on 4 September (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-09-04/HCWS1817/).
To remain in the UK after 2020, EU citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit, and their close family members, will be able to apply for European Temporary Leave to Remain. Under this scheme, EU citizens will be granted a period of 36 months’ leave to remain in the UK, which will provide them and their employers, with greater confidence and certainty during the transitional period before the new points-based immigration system is introduced from January 2021.
The rights of EU citizens resident in the UK before Brexit are unchanged and will be protected by the status they can obtain under the EU Settlement Scheme, as more than one million of them have already done. They will have at least until 31 December 2020 to make an application under that scheme.
Until the new points-based immigration system is introduced in 2021, EU citizens will be able to prove their right to take up employment, as now, by using their passport or national identity card. Alternatively, those with status under the EU Settlement Scheme or with European Temporary Leave to Remain may choose to use the Home Office on-line checking service to demonstrate their entitlement. When the new points-based immigration system is introduced from January 2021, employers will need to check that, in respect of any new recruitment, an EU citizen has a valid UK immigration status.
The Home Office continues to undertake extensive communications activity with employers. This includes events, webinars, and an online guide to employing EU citizens after Brexit. We have also published an employer toolkit to enable employers to provide reassurance and information to their staff. Advertising and local events are now underway to support the cross-government Get Ready campaign.