Drugs: Supply and Availability

Lord Sandhurst Excerpts

Wednesday 14th June 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

The noble Lord raises a very important point. The Government are always keen to engage with the development community on a case-by-case basis. As we have discussed from this Dispatch Box in the past, there are moneys available. It is very important that we all work closely together to make sure that those medicines of the future are made available for the population.

[Lord Sandhurst (Con)]

My Lords, do the Government intend to take steps in response to the January report by the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership to address the decline in medicines manufacturing and employment in the United Kingdom?

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

The Government recognise the valuable role that medicines manufacturing plays in the UK economy. It enables us to capitalise on our world-class research and development, create jobs and, significantly, create growth. Life science pharmaceutical manufacturing was responsible for more than £20 billion of exports in 2021. Our Life Sciences Vision set out the Government’s ambition to create a globally competitive environment for manufacturing investment. Last March, we launched the £60 million life sciences innovative manufacturing fund to encourage manufacturing investment in the UK. We will announce the fund’s winners later this year.