Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Public Procurement

Thursday 8 October 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Mark Hendrick asked about discussions on excluding public procurement from future trade deals.
  • The UK was admitted to the World Trade Organisation's government procurement agreement.
  • The Government stated the NHS and drug pricing will not be part of the US trade deal.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Hendrick Labour (Co-op) Preston
Business & Trade
Context

Discussions on the inclusion of public procurement in future trade deals with UK partners.

Question

What discussions she has had with UK trade partners on ensuring that public procurement is excluded from future trade deals.

Answer from Greg Hands

We are delighted that in Geneva yesterday the UK was admitted to the World Trade Organisation's government procurement agreement, which will secure access to a public procurement market worth £1.3 trillion. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will join me in welcoming this significant step for the UK as an independent trading nation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not address any discussions about excluding public procurement from future trade deals.

How: Changed Subject

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Q2 Mark Hendrick Labour (Co-op) Preston
NHS Brexit Business & Trade
Context

Concerns about the implications of a potential US trade deal for NHS drug procurement and pricing.

Question

The NHS currently strikes huge multi-billion-pound deals with drug providers around Europe that deliver huge benefits to the NHS and minimise drug costs to patients. Will the Government be allowing the US, through a trade deal, to gain access to NHS drugs procurement, and what are the implications for drug prices?

Answer from Greg Hands

We have been absolutely clear that in terms of the US deal the NHS is not on the table, and that includes drug pricing and other aspects of delivery of healthcare services. Let me remind the hon. Gentleman that the European Union is also a member of the government procurement agreement, and therefore we look forward, on a bilateral basis between the UK and the EU, to UK companies being able to take advantage of these procurement opportunities in European markets and also UK procurers being able to give their contracts to European companies.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not directly address the implications for drug prices or access to NHS drugs procurement through a US trade deal.

How: Changed Subject

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