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 role of the R&D sector in increasing the UK’s pandemic disease preparedness.

To date, £405 million has been invested by the Government to secure and scale up the United Kingdom’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities. The UK Health Security Agency delivers front line research and development (R&D) through initiatives such as the Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre which will strengthen preparedness for future pandemics and other high consequence infectious diseases. The Government also works directly with the R&D sector to increase pandemic preparedness, such as the 10-year strategic partnership with Moderna to set up mRNA R&D.