Second wave of Homebase shop closures
FEARS HAVE been raised that patients in the European Union may not be able to receive medicines produced in the UK post-Brexit in the latest warning of the possible implications of a ‘no deal’ departure.
The claim came as Chancellor Philip Hammond met his Brazilian counterpart in London as part of the Government’s continued attempts to improve trade relations with the rest of the world for when Britain leaves the bloc next year.
Mr Hammond met with Brazilian Finance Minister Eduardo Guardia as part of the Economic and Financial Dialogue, where Treasury officials said talks were held on green finance, tax and infrastructure.
He said afterwards: “Brazil is our top trading partner in Latin America, with our trade in goods and services worth £5.6 billion.
“The meetings today reinforced the strong ties that already exist between our two nations and I’m pleased that good progress was made towards our shared ambitions.”
A senior official from pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, which has its research headquarters in Cambridge, said yesterday the firm was carrying out tests in both the UK and EU as it prepares for “the strongest Brexit scenario”.
Ad Antonisse, the director of market access and external affairs for the company, told the Dutch government Brexit-loket site: “If we do not prepare well for Brexit, patients in the EU may no longer be able to receive their medicines, just because production happens to happen in the United Kingdom. Science is simply an international playing field.”
The Anglo-Swedish firm focuses on developing treatments for cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and respiratory issues.
“These are serious diseases and you do not want Brexit to have a problem with delivery to the patient,” Mr Antonisse said.
Last month, the new Health and Social Care Secretary said officials were considering working with industry to stockpile drugs, medical devices and supplies in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Matt Hancock said he was “confident” that a deal could be reached but said that it was “responsible” to prepare for a range of outcomes.
Separately, it emerged yesterday that Border Force staff could face holiday curbs if Britain leaves the EU without a deal, an outcome thought to be increasingly likely as time runs out to meet an agreement.
Proposals were reportedly sent to Home Secretary Sajid Javid as the Government explores contingency arrangements for a no-deal scenario.
Under one option, time off would be blocked for officers in the four weeks from March 24 – five days before the official leave date, according to the
Then staff would be able to take leave over the Easter period but only in exceptional circumstances, the paper reported.
Another approach would be for a two-week ban on holidays followed by six weeks of restrictions.
Border Force is a law enforcement command within the Home Office.
Its 8,000 officers are responsible for securing the UK border and controlling migration at 138 ports and airports domestically and overseas.
After Brexit, the agency will be tasked with implementing any changes to immigration and customs checks.
The Home Office said it is recruiting an additional 300 Border Force officers to prepare for the day the UK leaves the EU.
Separately, there is an ongoing campaign to recruit up to 1,000 personnel.
A Home Office spokesman said: “We have made significant progress in negotiations and are confident of securing a deal with the EU. However, it is the duty of any responsible Government to prepare for every eventuality, including the unlikely scenario that we reach March 2019 without agreeing a deal.” MORE THAN 300 people working for the HS2 high-speed rail link are paid six-figure sums, it has been reported.
HS2 paid 318 officials at least £100,000 in salary and perks last year, up from 155 in 2015-16, according to
The newspaper said figures, released under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, show that 112 staff receive more than £150,000 a year, with 15 topping £251,000 a year.
An HS2 Ltd spokeswoman said: “In a highly technical project of the scale and complexity of HS2 it is necessary to employ the right level of expertise and knowledge to deliver the programme successfully. As the project moves increasingly towards construction, as does our need for highly technical support increase.
“HS2 Ltd is committed to controlling costs and take our responsibility to taxpayers’ money very seriously, and the programme remains on track and within our funding envelope.”
HS2 said it publishes the number of people who earn above a salary of £150,000.
The figures released in the FOI use total remuneration including pension contributions, and is not their salary, the company added.
Phase 1 of the £55.7bn highspeed railway will open between London and Birmingham in December 2026.
A second Y-shaped phase of HS2 will launch in two stages.
Phase 2a from the West Midlands to Crewe will begin in 2027, followed by Phase 2b from Crewe to Manchester, and Birmingham to Leeds, in 2033. The project has proved controversial, with campaigners voicing concerns about potential damage to the environment and MPs attacking spiralling costs and delays. HOMEBASE IS set to press ahead with a second wave of store closures that could see up to 80 DIY outlets shut, putting between 1,500 to 2,000 jobs at risk.
The DIY chain is next week expected to announce it will file for a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA), a controversial insolvency procedure used by struggling firms to shut under-performing stores.
Restructuring experts at Alvarez & Marsal will carry out the CVA. It was first reported in June that Homebase was exploring further store closures through the procedure.
Homebase would have to secure the support of landlords to carry out a CVA. But the property industry has expressed consternation at the procedure, which has been adopted by the likes of House of Fraser, saying it leaves them out-of-pocket.