Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision of VMIC UK Services Ltd to sell the Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre on the UK's vaccine manufacturing capabilities.

The decision to sell the Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC UK Ltd) was made by VMIC UK Ltd's Board of Directors. The facility was subsequently sold to Catalent. Once completed, it is intended that the facility will be capable of producing a range of therapeutics and vaccines.

Over £405 million has been invested to strengthen United Kingdom manufacturing infrastructure to ensure a robust response to COVID-19 and potential future health emergencies and we have ambitious plans to invest more into the vaccine ecosystem and supply chain. Officials continue to engage with industry stakeholders to understand the wider landscape and implications for vaccine development and manufacturing in the UK.