Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with pharmaceutical company representatives about the risk of shortages of drugs and vaccines arising from the delay in establishing the new import procedures which will apply from 1 January 2021.

The Government, in consultation with the devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies and with partners across the health and social care sector, has made detailed plans to help ensure continued supply of medicines and medical products, including vaccines, to the whole of the United Kingdom from 1 January 2021.

The Department wrote to industry partners and the wider health and social care sector on 3 August this year and on 17 November setting out the Department’s plans and preparations to help ensure the continuity of supply of medical goods to the whole of the UK at the end of the transition period. This includes putting in place a £77 million freight contract, to help ensure the smooth flow of Category 1 goods, such as vaccines.