Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre

(asked on 7th March 2022) - View Source

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the consistency of the potential the sale of Vaccine Manufacture and Innovation Centre UK Ltd (a) assets and (b) members' interests to a pharmaceutical company with that company's non-profit objectives; and whether the Government has contingency plans to exercise control over that company in the event of a pandemic.


Answered by
George Freeman Portrait
George Freeman
This question was answered on 15th March 2022

The Government is not selling the VMIC facility. VMIC UK Ltd is a private company and has always been a private company. The decision to sell was made by VMIC UK Ltd’s Board of Directors. UKRI-Innovate UK and the Vaccine Taskforce are communicating with VMIC to help ensure the UK has a strong onshore vaccine ecosystem.

Innovate UK has exercised its right to be an observer on the VMIC Board of Directors since the inception of VMIC. Innovate UK has been a board observer when the sale of the facility has been discussed.

The Vaccine Taskforce is in contact with VMIC UK Ltd’s Board of Directors following their decision to pursue a sale. Decisions regarding how best to pursue the company’s objectives are made by VMIC UK Ltd’s Board of Directors and executive team. The Government will continue to support the UK’s domestic vaccine manufacturing, vaccine innovation and health emergency response capability.

Details on any potential acquirers of VMIC UK Ltd or any potential return to Government are commercially sensitive.

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