Britain's vital supply chains are unprepared for a major shock such as war with Russia, and bold steps are needed to catch up with 'worst-case scenario' planning by European states, ministers have been warned. The warning comes in a report by the National Preparedness Commission (NPC), which promotes national crisis planning and is overseen by a panel including senior figures from emergency services, the NHS and experts on risk and security.
The report, titled 'Future-proofing Security of Supply in a Contested World', highlights that the UK is lagging behind other European countries in stockpiling critical medicines and food supplies. It notes that while medicine suppliers are required to hold at least eight weeks of buffer stock for hospitals, compliance is patchy and not mandated for pharmacies serving primary care. The government also has no intention to produce a critical medicines list or to strategically stockpile critical medicines or medical equipment, other than for military CBRN scenarios.
In terms of food supply, the UK is one of the least self-sufficient countries in Europe, with no strategic stockpile or requirement for wholesalers to hold buffer stocks. By contrast, countries such as Norway and Sweden have begun to rebuild emergency grain and food reserves, while other EU states encourage households to store several days' worth of food and water for emergencies.
The report warns that recent global events, such as the Iran conflict and repeated lurches in international relations, raise profound questions about the UK's future ability to access raw materials and components. It also notes that Donald Trump's 'America First' transformation has made the US a much less reliable partner, which should feed into planning. The report calls for a shift in government thinking from 'why we should not stockpile' to 'how and where we might most sensibly do it'.
