Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will increase the capacity of NHS stores to enable the holding of a greater supply of each product in the context of the shortage of blood collection tubes.

We have secured tens of millions of additional blood tubes, including importing additional supplies from the European Union and the United States, which are now in National Health Service use, and there continues to be stock in place to ensure clinically urgent testing continues. Patient safety is my top priority and we are working closely with suppliers, NHS England and the devolved administrations to minimise any impact on patient care and enhance resilience in the future.