MPs draw up £25million plan to airlift life-saving medical supplies into Britain in the event of No Deal
HEALTH ministers have drawn up a plan to airlift emergency medical supplies into Britain every day to withstand a No Deal Brexit.
A £25million contract will today be offered to couriers to fly in 50 pallets of urgent drugs as well as several hundred smaller parcels a day, for as long as a year.
The dramatic measure would ensure life-saving pills will get to patients despite any potential lorry logjams at cross-channel ferry ports.
Lengthy queues could spring up if border controls are re-imposed by EU governments after October 31 if there is no exit agreement in place.
The move is the latest to be ordered by a major new drive by Boris Johnson’s government to turbo charge No Deal preparations.
Health Minister Chris Skidmore insisted it was about guaranteeing that “all appropriate steps have been taken to ensure frontline services are fully prepared”.
He added: “This express freight service sends a clear message to the public that our plans should ensure supply of medical goods remains uninterrupted as we leave the EU.”
New Chancellor Sajid Javid has signed off an extra £2billion from Treasury coffers to step up No Deal planning, on top of the £4.2billion already allocated.
A total of £434million has been set aside to make sure vital medicines and medical products keep arriving, including booking extra ferry space as well as warehousing and stockpiling.
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