Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the security of supply for chemicals such as methacrylates, ethylene, propylene and acrylonitrile required for vaccine production, personal protective equipment, and medical-grade materials in the light of supply chain disruption caused by the Iran conflict.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is closely monitoring the Middle East conflict to assess any potential impact on United Kingdom medical supply chains. This includes ongoing discussion with industry partners about potential impacts on necessary raw materials and finished products used in healthcare.

We maintain well‑established contingency arrangements to manage supply disruptions where these occur. These can include coordination of mutual aid, work to identify alternative products, alternative clinical practices, regulatory easements, and/or use of the Express Freight Service which can provide bespoke global logistics services in the event of critical supply disruption.

We will continue to engage industry and health system partners to identify and mitigate any potential impact on patient care.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with industry about ensuring reliable access to disinfectants and sanitation chemicals, including hydrogen peroxide, ethanol and isopropanol, in the light of supply chain disruption caused by the Iran conflict.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is closely monitoring the Middle East conflict to assess any potential impact on United Kingdom medical supply chains. This includes ongoing discussion with industry partners about potential impacts on necessary raw materials and finished products used in healthcare.

We maintain well‑established contingency arrangements to manage supply disruptions where these occur. These can include coordination of mutual aid, work to identify alternative products, alternative clinical practices, regulatory easements, and/or use of the Express Freight Service which can provide bespoke global logistics services in the event of critical supply disruption.

We will continue to engage industry and health system partners to identify and mitigate any potential impact on patient care.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on food security, including food packaging in protective atmospheres, of (1) the limitations of domestic production of the chemical precursors ammonia, carbon dioxide and ethylene, and (2) the disruption to the supply chain of those chemicals caused by the Iran conflict.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra works with industry and across Government to monitor any risks to our food system that may arise. At present, the conflict in the Middle East is not causing significant impacts to the supply of food to consumers, and the Government does not expect any short-term disruption. The Government will continue to monitor the situation and take all necessary steps. The Government has shored up the UK’s critical supplies of CO2, vital for Britain’s packaged meats and fresh food and for the nuclear and healthcare sectors, by temporarily restarting the Ensus bioethanol plant in Wilton, Teesside. This action forms part of wider Government work designed to ensure the UK maintains access to its critical industrial inputs during global supply shocks, such as the ongoing Iran conflict. The Government is also taking steps to diversify the UK’s long term CO2 supply, to strengthen UK resilience and reduce future reliance on imports. Defra will work with industry on our long-term plan to secure resilience in the sector.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that British grain is used to produce bioethanol at the Ensus plant on Teeside.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Government is in open dialogue with Ensus on the plant's operation, including the use of British grain in their production. We are committed to supporting British business and products.

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