Brexit boss Dominic Raab insist food and medical supplies won’t dry up in No Deal Brexit
MINISTERS have insisted they will not let food and medical supplies dry up in a No Deal Brexit.
Following The Sun’s revelations last week, the Brexit Secretary confirmed secret plans have been drawn up to stockpile processed foods to protect supply chains.
But Dominic Raab said that the Government would not gather food - rather help industry “make sure that there’s adequate food supplies.”
Mr Raab said he would not "drip-feed out" details of the planning but added: "We will be issuing a series of technical notices which will, in a responsible and reassuring way, explain what we are doing to mitigate the risks while giving the full picture so that - whether it's farmers or citizens or other businesses - they understand what their position is and what the support that we will provide is."
It came as Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed more detailed NHS plans in the event of a No Deal Brexit.
He told MPs the department was "working up options with industry for stockpiling" medicines and other supplies but there was still "work to do".
He added: "Obviously there will be a cost for this. We are seeking to avoid a no-deal Brexit, but departmental preparations are accelerating to ensure people’s health needs are provided in the event of a no-deal Brexit."
Challenged about the prospect of a "no-deal" outcome, Mr Raab said that while there would be "uncertainty" in the short-term "I think long-term actually we would still be able to thrive".
But he risked a backlash after warning he had ‘no idea’ what would happen if Britain fails to negotiate a trade deal by the end of the transition phase in 2020 - adding “it was a good question.”
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Mr Raab told the committee it would be "difficult to judge" precisely when talks had reached a position where it was inevitable there would be no deal.
"I'm confident we can avoid it with ambition, pragmatism and energy on both sides," he said.
"I can't give you a precise moment at which it will be clear that there is no deal."
And he insisted the UK would not "cower" in talks with Brussels following concerns that a "no-deal" Brexit was becoming more likely.