HL Deb 24 June 2002 vol 636 cc121-2WA
Lord Tebbit

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the smallpox vaccine to be manufactured in Germany by Bavarian Nordic was purchased through an intermediary rather than directly [HL4591]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

PowderJect, to whom the Government awarded the contract for the supply of smallpox vaccine, has an exclusive agreement with Bavarian Nordic, the manufacturers of this vaccine, to act as its suppliers in the United Kingdom. This collaboration between the companies was made clear from the outset and was confirmed in the written proposals submitted by PowderJect in response to their meeting with the Department of Health officials. Bavarian Nordic was also approached directly and confirmed that the vaccine supply must be through its chosen partners PowderJect.