Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Life Sciences Sector Plan includes provision to protect and promote the resilience of the UK’s medicines supply chain.

A thriving life sciences sector is key to supporting the United Kingdom’s resilience and securing our medicines supply chain. Through the Life Sciences Sector Plan, the Government is making the UK one of the best places in the world to develop and manufacture new and innovative medicines and build onshore manufacturing capabilities.

The sector plan commits to delivery of the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF), which is providing up to £520 million in grants to companies to improve the UK’s manufacturing capability and resilience. So far, LSIMF grants have supported five companies, unlocking over £560 million of investment in life sciences manufacturing, and research and development, with further announcements expected in the coming weeks and months.