Over the last few weeks, Rushanara Ali MP has questioned the Government over their use of non-disclosure agreements, which prevent organisations and businesses from revealing any information related to contingency plans drawn up by Government departments in no deal Brexit preparations.
Following Rushanra’s enquiries, the Government admitted to using NDAs in a number of departments, including the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Exiting the European Union.
Rushanara Ali MP said:
“It is unacceptable that the Government continues to pursue a policy of silencing businesses and industry from speaking out about the disastrous implications of a no deal Brexit.
By effectively ‘gagging’ these organisations, these secretive agreements are preventing essential information from being shared, are undermining transparency, and are hampering businesses’ ability to speak out.
Leaving the EU without a deal will cause irrevocable damage to the UK’s economy and people’s lives. The Government must stop hiding the truth and take no deal off the table immediately.”
You can view some of the media coverage relating to this below:
The Wall Street Journal - 17 January 2019 - Roche moves drug safety operation away from UK
The Guardian - 23 December 2018 - Pharmaceutical firms preparing no deal Brexit ordered to sign NDAs
Euro news - 24 December 2018 - Drug companies sign gagging orders over no deal Brexit preparations