Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to use any Brexit stockpiles in the event of increased supply chain issues caused by the recent outbreak of COVID-19.

Stockpiles of medical supplies built up in advance of European Union exit will be used as part of the Department’s response to the recent outbreak of COVID-19.

As part of this, the Department has directed NHS Supply Chain to pause ramp-down activity of our centralised stock-build of medical devices and clinical consumables, built up in advance of EU exit. In addition, on 11 February 2020, the Department wrote to all suppliers of medicines and medical products in scope of our EU exit work asking those companies that have retained some or all their EU exit stockpiles to hold on to these stockpiles until further notice, as a precaution.