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1081770

registered interest
date	04/03/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to secure the supply of (a) methotrexate and (b) hydroxychloroquine in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	228079
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2019 answer text <p>Leaving the European Union with a deal remains the Government’s top priority; however, as a responsible Government we are planning for every possible outcome, including ‘no deal’. The Department has published guidance to industry and the health and care system to allow them to make informed plans and preparations. This is available on GOV.UK.</p><p> </p><p>We are confident that, if everyone does what they need to do, the supply of medicines and other medical products, including methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine, will be uninterrupted.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has put in place a multi-layered approach to minimise any supply disruption:</p><p>- securing, via the Department for Transport, additional roll on roll off freight capacity (away from the short straits crossings to Dover and Folkestone) for goods to continue to come into the United Kingdom from 29 March;</p><p>- asking industry to build up stockpiles in the UK before 29 March;</p><p>- buying extra warehouse space for the additional stock to be held in;</p><p>- supporting companies in booking space on aeroplanes for products which require an immediate shipment due to short shelf-life, including medical radioisotopes, or specific storage conditions;</p><p>- making changes to, or clarifications of, certain regulatory requirements so that companies can continue to sell their products in the UK even if we have no deal;</p><p>- strengthening the processes and resources used to deal with shortages in the event that they do occur.</p><p> </p><p>There is cross-Government agreement that all medicines and medical products will be prioritised on these alternative routes to ensure that the flow of all these products may continue unimpeded. For any products that require air freight, we are continuing to work with suppliers to ensure this continues as normal.</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 12/03/2019 12:29:50 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1079318

registered interest
date	28/02/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of stockpiling drugs so that patients can continue to have access to those drugs in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Southport
tabling member printed	Damien Moore
uin	227166
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2019 answer text <p>Leaving the European Union with a deal remains the Government’s top priority. However, as a responsible Government we must plan for every possible outcome, including ‘no deal’. The Department has published guidance to industry and the health and care system to allow them to make informed plans and preparations. This is available on GOV.UK.</p><p>The Department has put in place a multi-layered approach to minimise any disruption to the supply of medicines. In August 2018, the Department wrote to all pharmaceutical companies that supply prescription-only and pharmacy medicines to the United Kingdom that come from or via the EU/European Economic Area asking them to ensure a minimum of six weeks’ additional supply in the UK, over and above existing business-as-usual buffer stocks, by 29 March 2019.</p><p>The response from industry has been hugely positive. The vast majority of companies have confirmed stockpiling plans are in place and medicines continue to arrive to deliver on these plans. We are confident that if everyone does what they need to do, the supply of medicines and other medical products will be uninterrupted.</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 08/03/2019 11:13:18 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
tabling member	4669 label Biography information for Damien Moore

1078701

registered interest
date	27/02/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference article entitled, How will Brexit affect health services in the UK? An updated evaluation, published in the Lancet on 27 February 2019,when his Department plans to publish the (a) medicines and (b) medical devices for which his Department has supply concerns in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	226659
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>The Department is working closely with trade bodies, product suppliers, the health and care system in England, the devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies, to make detailed plans to ensure the continuation of the supply of medical products to the whole of the United Kingdom in the event of a ‘no deal’ European Union exit.</p><p> </p><p>We have also assessed contract risks associated with potential EU exit in the broader National Health Service and within the devolved administrations, and are working with suppliers to ensure adequate mitigations are in place for non-clinical goods and services (e.g. hospital food, laundry, IT contracts etc).</p><p> </p><p>The key risk to supply is reduced traffic flow at the short straits crossing (i.e. between Calais and Dover or Folkestone), which is where the majority of medicines and other medical products imported from the EU/European Economic Area (EEA) come from. Many companies across all sectors, have already taken measures to protect their own supply chain to avoid the possible delays at the Dover Straits. The Department for Transport has also procured additional ‘roll on roll off’ freight capacity equivalent of around an extra 2,200 heavy goods vehicle per week to help companies in importing medicines and medical products into the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises the vital importance of medicines and medical products, including insulin, and is working to ensure that there is sufficient roll-on, roll-off freight capacity to enable these vital products to continue to move freely in to the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has agreed that medicines and medical products will be prioritised on these alternative routes to ensure that the flow of all these products will continue unimpeded after 29 March 2019.</p><p> </p><p>In August 2018, the Department asked suppliers to confirm arrangements in respect of prescription-only and pharmacy medicines that come from or via the EU/EEEA. Company responses have provided the Department with an indication of industry’s ability and preparedness to stockpile six weeks’ worth of additional supply of each of the in-scope medicines in the UK ahead of 29 March 2019.</p><p> </p><p>Since then, we have continued to receive very good engagement and are working closely with industry on a product-by-product basis. Companies share our aims of ensuring continuity of medicines supply for patients is maintained and able to cope with any potential delays at the border that may arise in the short term in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit.</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond grouped question UIN 226660 226661 question first answered 04/03/2019 17:43:45 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

1078703

registered interest
date	27/02/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the article entitled, How will Brexit affect health services in the UK? An updated evaluation, published on 27 February 2019, whether his Department’s stockpiling contingency plans will ensure medicinal supplies are secured in the long term after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	226661
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>The Department is working closely with trade bodies, product suppliers, the health and care system in England, the devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies, to make detailed plans to ensure the continuation of the supply of medical products to the whole of the United Kingdom in the event of a ‘no deal’ European Union exit.</p><p> </p><p>We have also assessed contract risks associated with potential EU exit in the broader National Health Service and within the devolved administrations, and are working with suppliers to ensure adequate mitigations are in place for non-clinical goods and services (e.g. hospital food, laundry, IT contracts etc).</p><p> </p><p>The key risk to supply is reduced traffic flow at the short straits crossing (i.e. between Calais and Dover or Folkestone), which is where the majority of medicines and other medical products imported from the EU/European Economic Area (EEA) come from. Many companies across all sectors, have already taken measures to protect their own supply chain to avoid the possible delays at the Dover Straits. The Department for Transport has also procured additional ‘roll on roll off’ freight capacity equivalent of around an extra 2,200 heavy goods vehicle per week to help companies in importing medicines and medical products into the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises the vital importance of medicines and medical products, including insulin, and is working to ensure that there is sufficient roll-on, roll-off freight capacity to enable these vital products to continue to move freely in to the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has agreed that medicines and medical products will be prioritised on these alternative routes to ensure that the flow of all these products will continue unimpeded after 29 March 2019.</p><p> </p><p>In August 2018, the Department asked suppliers to confirm arrangements in respect of prescription-only and pharmacy medicines that come from or via the EU/EEEA. Company responses have provided the Department with an indication of industry’s ability and preparedness to stockpile six weeks’ worth of additional supply of each of the in-scope medicines in the UK ahead of 29 March 2019.</p><p> </p><p>Since then, we have continued to receive very good engagement and are working closely with industry on a product-by-product basis. Companies share our aims of ensuring continuity of medicines supply for patients is maintained and able to cope with any potential delays at the border that may arise in the short term in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit.</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond grouped question UIN 226659 226660 question first answered 04/03/2019 17:43:45 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

1077662

registered interest
date	26/02/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his oral Answer of 19 February 2019, Official Report, column 1315, on Leaving the EU: Contingency Planning, how his Department calculated the estimated cost of NHS no-deal contingency plans.
tabling member constituency	Blaenau Gwent
tabling member printed	Nick Smith
uin	226083
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2019 answer text <p>The £11 million (approximate) figure quoted by my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, refers to the costs of the contracts the Department has signed with warehouse providers to provide storage facilities to stockpile medicines in case of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union without a deal on 29 March 2019.</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 06/03/2019 10:59:22 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
tabling member	3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith

1064731

registered interest
date	21/02/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has issued to Clinical Commissioning Groups on the provision of medicines in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal; and what the responsibility is of Clinical Commissioning Groups ensure adequate supplies of medicines in that event.
tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
tabling member printed	Tom Brake
uin	224290
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2019 answer text <p>The Department’s contingency plans aim to ensure that the supply of medicines to patients is not disrupted in all European Union exit scenarios, including in the event we exit the EU without a deal. We are confident that, if everyone does what they need to do, the supply of medicines will be uninterrupted in the event of exiting the EU without a deal.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is working closely with trade bodies, product suppliers, the health and care system in England, the devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies, to make detailed plans to ensure the continuation of the supply of medicines to the whole of the United Kingdom in the event of a no deal EU exit.</p><p> </p><p>On 23 August 2018, the Department sent a letter to all healthcare providers to advise of our ‘no deal’ EU exit medicines supply contingency plans. That letter highlighted the need for maintaining existing practices and that hospitals, general practitioners and community pharmacies throughout the UK do not need to take any steps to stockpile additional medicines, beyond their business as usual buffer stocks.</p><p> </p><p>A letter from Dr Keith Ridge CBE, the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer at NHS England, outlining the steps taken thus far to protect the continuity of supply for medicines was then sent out NHS services, including clinical commissioning groups, on 17 January 2019.</p><p> </p><p>More recently, on 4 February 2019, a further letter was sent out by Professor Keith Willett, EU Exit Strategic Commander and Medical Director for Acute Care and Emergency Preparedness, to clinical commissioning groups and trust Chief Executives reiterating the Department’s messaging and outlining the operational response that NHS England and NHS Improvement are undertaking at a national and regional level in preparation for a ‘no deal’ EU exit. This latest letter also includes links to previous correspondence and operational guidance.</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 26/02/2019 16:19:54 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1060592

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many weeks’ worth of medicines the Government has asked pharmaceutical companies to stockpile as part of preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and how his Department decided on that period of duration.
tabling member constituency	Enfield, Southgate
tabling member printed	Bambos Charalambous
uin	220998
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>We understand that breast cancer drugs are vitally important to many people in this country. Our ‘no deal’ European Union exit contingency plans include sensible mitigations for medicines that come to the United Kingdom from or via the EU/European Economic Area (EEA), to ensure that the supply of breast cancer drugs and other essential medicines to patients is not disrupted.</p><p> </p><p>In August 2018, the Department wrote to all pharmaceutical companies that supply prescription-only and pharmacy medicines to the UK that come from or via the EU/EEA asking them to ensure a minimum of six weeks additional supply in the UK, over and above existing business-as-usual buffer stocks, by 29 March 2019 in a ‘no deal’ scenario. The duration of the stockpiling requirement was based on the Government’s reasonable worst-case scenario border disruption planning assumptions.</p><p> </p><p>We also recognise that certain medicines with short shelf lives, including medical radioisotopes, cannot be reasonably stockpiled. Where these medicines are imported from the EU or EEA, we have asked that suppliers ensure in advance plans to air freight these medicines from the EU in the event of the no deal exit.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is unable to discuss specific medicines because to we have committed to treating all information received confidentially, securely and to using it only for the purposes of the Department’s programme, in order to reassure participating companies. This means not introducing information about a specific company, medicine, or a supply route into the public domain or to a third party.</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond grouped question UIN 221000 question first answered 18/02/2019 15:19:26 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
tabling member	4610 label Biography information for Bambos Charalambous

1060593

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has in place to (a) (i) monitor and (ii) identify gaps in the medicines being stockpiled by pharmaceutical companies and (b) protect the supply of medicines not being stockpiled by pharmaceutical companies.
tabling member constituency	Enfield, Southgate
tabling member printed	Bambos Charalambous
uin	220999
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2019 answer text <p>In August 2018, the Department asked suppliers to confirm arrangements in respect of prescription-only and pharmacy medicines that come from or via the European Union /European Economic Area. Company responses have provided the Department with an indication of industry’s ability and preparedness to stockpile six weeks’ worth of additional supply of each of the in-scope medicines in the United Kingdom ahead of 29 March 2019.</p><p>Since then, we have continued to receive very good engagement and are working closely with industry on a product-by-product basis. Companies share our aims of ensuring continuity of medicines supply for patients is maintained and that suppliers are able to cope with any potential delays at the border that may arise in the short term in a ‘no deal’ scenario.</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 22/02/2019 11:59:04 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
tabling member	4610 label Biography information for Bambos Charalambous

1060643

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on 29 March 2019 on the supply of medicines to the UK for NHS use.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff West
tabling member printed	Kevin Brennan
uin	220816
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>Our number one priority is to ensure patients continue to have unhindered access to medicines as we exit the European Union and we are working with all sectors in the supply chain to ensure this happens.</p><p> </p><p>The Government remains committed to leaving the EU with a deal. Under the conditions of the Withdrawal Agreement, there will be a two-year Implementation Period within which the Government will negotiate the United Kingdom’s future relationship with the EU. During the Implementation Period, there will be no change to the current trading arrangements with the EU/European Economic Area (EEA), meaning the supply of medicines and medical products will continue unhindered.</p><p> </p><p>As a responsible Government, we are planning for all possible exit scenarios, including ‘no deal’. Our ‘no deal’ medicines supply contingency plans include sensible mitigations for medicines that come to the United Kingdom from or via the EU/ EEA to ensure that the supply of essential medicines, is not disrupted.</p><p> </p><p>In August 2018, the Department wrote to all pharmaceutical companies that supply prescription-only and pharmacy medicines to the UK that come from, or via, the EU/EEA asking them to ensure a minimum of six weeks additional supply in the UK, over and above existing business-as-usual buffer stocks, by 29 March 2019. The response from industry has been very positive. The vast majority of companies have confirmed stockpiling plans are in place.</p><p> </p><p>On 7 December, the Government published updated reasonable worst-case scenario border disruption planning assumptions in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit. Medicines and medical products are prioritised in cross-Government planning, and the Department is working with relevant partners across Government and industry to ensure we have sufficient roll-on, roll-off freight capacity on alternative routes to enable these vital products to continue to move freely into the UK.</p><p> </p><p>We are confident that if everyone does what they need to do, supplies will continue unhindered. The Department does not expect to see significant changes to existing medicine supply chains or capacity in the intervening period between now and 29 March 2019, although we will be monitoring this closely.</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 18/02/2019 15:10:21 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
tabling member	1400 label Biography information for Kevin Brennan

1058976

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) protect patients and (b) ensure pharmaceutical companies have a minimum of six weeks’ additional supply of vital medications over and above existing business-as-usual buffer stocks in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	219497
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>Our number one priority is to ensure patients continue to have unhindered access to medicines as we exit the European Union and we are working with all sectors in the supply chain to ensure this happens.</p><p> </p><p>We understand that medicines for rheumatoid arthritis are vitally important to many people in this country. Our ‘no deal’ medicines supply contingency plans include sensible mitigations for medicines that come to the United Kingdom from or via the EU/European Economic Area (EEA) to ensure that the supply of essential medicines, including medicines for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, is not disrupted.</p><p> </p><p>In August 2018, the Department wrote to all pharmaceutical companies that supply prescription-only and pharmacy medicines, including those for rheumatoid arthritis, to the UK that come from, or via, the EU/EEA asking them to ensure a minimum of six weeks’ additional supply in the UK, over and above existing business-as-usual buffer stocks, by 29 March 2019.</p><p> </p><p>On 7 December, the Government published updated reasonable worst-case scenario border disruption planning assumptions in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit. Medicines and medical products are prioritised in cross-Government planning, and the Department is working with relevant partners across Government and industry to ensure we have sufficient roll-on, roll-off freight capacity on alternative routes to enable these vital products to continue to move freely into the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Throughout enacting our plans, we have received very good engagement from industry, including on their plans to stockpile medicines. They share our aims of ensuring that the continuity of supply of medicines and medical products for patients is maintained and able to cope with any potential delays at the border that may arise in the short term in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit.</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond grouped question UIN 219496 question first answered 14/02/2019 17:06:21 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens