In our June 2022 report on the Department’s 2020–21 Annual Report and Accounts we noted the lack of planning for how big a PPE stockpile needed to be, and also the need to build greater resilience into the supply chain.20 We asked the Department again about the need and its future plans for stockpiling items that may be required in the event of a future pandemic. The Department stated there are a number of decisions yet to be made regarding what is included in a stockpile for future pandemics...

In our June 2022 report on the Department’s 2020–21 Annual Report and Accounts we noted the lack of planning for how big a PPE stockpile needed to be, and also the need to build greater resilience into the supply chain.20 We asked the Department again about the need and its future plans for stockpiling items that may be required in the event of a future pandemic. The Department stated there are a number of decisions yet to be made regarding what is included in a stockpile for future pandemics.21 It said that the stockpile held was invaluable for the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic.22 However, one of its big limitations was the abili Type: conclusion | Number: 9 | Response status: accepted Government response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 The department has in place a clinical countermeasure programme of some appropriate medicines and consumables to respond to a range of scenarios, for example vaccines (includi