Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has put plans in place to utilise the armed forces to ensure the timely delivery of seasonal flu vaccines to GPs in the event that the shortage of HGV drivers continues.

The provision of vaccines around the UK is the responsibility of the Department for Health and Social Care, Defence has not been asked to provide support to the vaccination programme this winter. The Armed Forces can provide support to the civil authorities at their request where a situation goes beyond the capacity and/or capability of local authorities and other agencies under the Military Aid to Civil Authorities process.