Health and Sport Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Official Report 690KB pdf

European Union Exit Statutory Notification

Healthcare (European Economic Area and Switzerland Arrangements) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

Agenda item 2 is consideration of a Scottish Government proposal to consent to the UK Government legislating under the Healthcare (European Economic Area and Switzerland Arrangements) Act 2019, in relation to the Healthcare (European Economic Area and Switzerland Arrangements) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. The purpose of the instrument is to give effect to reciprocal healthcare arrangements with those countries following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. We have received no comment on the instrument from the Scottish Parliament information centre or the office of the solicitor to the Scottish Parliament. We must decide whether to give consent to the instrument.

I suggest that we give consent. The regulations will ensure the status quo—that we maintain what exists. The key point is that the funding will still come from the UK Government, which is vital. We all agree that reciprocity is important, so I certainly support the Scottish Government’s proposal.

On timing, it is worth noting that the plan was that the instrument would be approved by the committee in order for an order to be laid in the House of Commons on 2 October. The UK Parliament was prorogued, but we wanted, nonetheless, to stick to that timetable. As members will have heard, the prorogation of Parliament has been ruled to have been unlawful by the UK Supreme Court, but we do not know what the consequences of that will be for what happens to UK legislation in October.

If members are content, the committee can simply consent to the Scottish Government taking the matter forward. It will, no doubt, negotiate further with UK colleagues. Do members agree to that?

Members indicated agreement.