Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress he has made in allocating the £354 million funding from the Global Britain Investment Fund identified for life sciences manufacturing in Autumn Budget 2021; with reference to the allocation of £60 million to the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund, what engagement has he had with UK life sciences companies on allocation of the remaining funding; and what his timescale is for making further announcements on allocations from the Global Britain Investment Fund.

In the Autumn Budget, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £354 million for UK life sciences manufacturing. This includes funding to further enhance the UK’s health emergency responsiveness and capability in vaccine production. Areas of focus for this funding will include mRNA capability following the success of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, and investments which will strengthen the resilience of the UK’s vaccine supply chains. The Vaccine Taskforce has undertaken considerable market engagement across the global vaccine sector to maximise impact for the UK taxpayers.

The £60 million Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF) was announced on 2 March 2022. The launch was accompanied by a UK wide engagement of life sciences manufacturing companies, Trade Associations and other key sector stakeholders.