Question reference: S5W-30885
- Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 22 July 2020
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 13 August 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international supply chains, what action it is taking to encourage and increase the manufacturing of medical devices and PPE in Scotland, and what analysis it has carried out of (a) the potential economic impact of such an approach and (b) how this could improve national resilience.
Answer
In order to strengthen our domestic supplies of medical devices and PPE, NHS Scotland, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland have supported a wide range of Scottish businesses to increase their manufacturing output in response to Covid-19.
Well over 50 Scottish businesses have expanded or repurposed production to help meet NHS Scotland demand and bolster supply chain resilience. For example, Berry BPI on-shored production of over 100 million polythene aprons – equivalent to a full year’s supply for NHS Scotland – creating an additional 60 jobs in Greenock. We are working to preserve and create jobs, and develop resilience against future shocks including the possibility of a second wave or future pandemics.