Davis firm on Euratom as MPS launch inquiry

David Davis will push ahead with plans to pull Britain out of the European civil nuclear regulator during Brexit talks in Brussels next week despite fears it could it could hit cancer treatments.

In the second round of negotiations with the EU’S chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Monday, Mr Davis will call for minimised civil nuclear trade barriers after the divorce.

Papers setting out the Brexit Secretary’s position say the UK is “keen to discuss this as quickly as possible” and wants a “smooth transition” with no interruptions in the safeguard arrangements.

The Royal College of Radiologists says it remains concerned over the potential impact on cancer patients from disruption to the supply of medical materials once the UK is outside the nuclear common market, through higher costs, increased regulation or trade barriers.

Meanwhile, the newlyelected chairwoman of the Commons Business select committee has announced she intends to hold an inquiry into Britain’s future membership of Euratom.

Labour’s Rachel Reeves said she wanted to look into the UK’S post-brexit relationship with the nuclear regulator because “so many jobs and investment depend upon it”.