Medical Research and Development (Israel)
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1. What steps he is taking to strengthen the trade
relationship in medical research and development with
Israel. [909448]
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As we begin our questions today, it is appropriate that
we recommit ourselves to the values that this Parliament
represents. Those who carry out such wicked and depraved
actions as we saw yesterday can never triumph in our
country. We must ensure that it is not violence, hatred
or division, but decency, goodness and tolerance that
prevail in our country.
The United Kingdom and Israel have a strong and important
trading relationship, with nearly £5 billion in bilateral
trade last year. We will continue to liaise closely on
strengthening our trading links, including in important
sectors such as medical research and development. The
Life Sciences Organisation within the Department for
International Trade currently supports companies wishing
to export to Israel from the earliest stages of research
and development through to manufactured medicines and
medical devices.
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I join you, Mr Speaker, and my right hon. Friend the
Secretary of State in expressing sincere condolences to
the victims of the terrible atrocity yesterday, and
particularly to the family of PC Keith Palmer, who died
so that we can carry out our democratic duties.
I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer. Companies in
the Israeli economy are responsible for more than 100
million prescription drugs consumed in this country every
year, and one has recently launched the ReWalk device,
whereby people are encouraged to develop. Will he set out
what further plans he has to ensure that we benefit from
Israel’s pharmaceutical industry?
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UK industry will have a strong and important trading
relationship with Israel, and the Department for
International Trade supports and will continue to support
life science companies from Israel that invest in the UK,
and those seeking to export from the UK. The companies
range from large multinationals to small and medium-sized
companies such as the one my hon. Friend mentioned. We
support all stages, whether that is by facilitating
investment in research and development or setting up
commercial operations, such as manufacturing, to export
from the UK.
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I, too, express my condolences to the families of all
those who died, and I wish the very best for those who
were injured.
One notable thing about Israel’s trade relationship with
the EU is that Israel is part of Horizon 2020. Has the
Secretary of State considered whether, after Brexit, we
should stay in Horizon 2020 and the European Medicines
Agency?
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The latter decision will be part of our negotiations. We
have made it clear that our intention is to roll over in
full the trading agreements that the EU currently has
with third countries. That will include Israel, on the
basis of the current negotiations.
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In his trade discussions with the Israeli Government,
will the Secretary of State convey the House’s sympathy
for and solidarity with Israel, which has so often
suffered the same kind of terrorist attack as we suffered
in this House yesterday?
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What we have in common with all terrorist attacks is the
fact that such acts of savagery against the innocent can
never be justified or excused by creed or by politics.
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May I echo the opening words of the Secretary of State
and indeed the condolences that have been expressed for
the police officer and the families of others affected by
this tragedy?
The world-leading Institute of Cancer Research in the
London borough of Sutton already does a lot of work with
Israel. Can the Secretary of State confirm whether the
post-grads who work at the institute, a third of whom
come from the European Union, will be able to carry on
working in those projects for years to come?
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The Government have already made it clear that the United
Kingdom wishes to see an early resolution on the status
of EU citizens. Those who collaborate with our research
institutes do so on the basis of the quality of the
research, and I am sure that that will continue.
