UK was 'in danger of running out' of paracetamol - Liz Truss

4 May 2021, 11:35 | Updated: 4 May 2021, 13:59

Truss: The UK was 'in danger of running out' of paracetamol last year

By Tim Dodd

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has told LBC that the Government's 'dependence on a few critical supply chains' almost caused paracetamol supplies to run dry last year.

Speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari, Liz Truss said: "What we realised last year is that we were very dependent on a few critical supply chains for key goods. We are now making sure that we have those critical supply chains in place - we have done a lot of work on this under the title of 'Project Defend'.

"India gave us huge help last year when we were short of products like paracetamol, the Indian government expedited delivery to the UK."

Commenting on the UK's £1 billion trade deal with India announced yesterday, Nick Ferrari said: "This is obviously great news, but the timing is perhaps a little questionable, in that the poor souls in India in some instances are having to burn their relatives in their back gardens."

READ MORE: Liz Truss: Leaving EU made signing £1bn India trade deal easier

Responding to this, Liz Truss said: "I completely agree the situation in India is heartbreaking at present, and we are also working very hard to get crucial supplies. We sent over 600 pieces of oxygen equipment, we've got more on the way this week.

READ MORE: Coming weeks in India will be 'horrible', expert warns as Covid deaths mount

Liz Truss tells LBC trade deals are easier now UK is out of EU

"I see this as part of a real partnership between our two nations. India is the largest democracy in the world, they're a key ally of the United Kingdom, we want to help them through the appalling situation they're facing with Covid at the moment."

Liz Truss outlined that trade with India "helps fix some of these problems" and is "part of the solution", referencing the £240m investment by the Serum Institute of India as part of the trade deal, which will support clinical trials, research and possibly the manufacturing of vaccines.

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Nigel Farage 'reduced to tears' over ECHR rule which saw Albanian criminal's deportation 'halted over chicken nuggets'

Nigel Farage 'reduced to tears' over ECHR rule which saw Albanian criminal's deportation 'halted over chicken nuggets'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage joins farmers and their tractors at Belmont Farm in north London

Farage urges farmers to 'keep the pressure up' as tractor protest hits Westminster over Labour’s ‘family farm tax’

Exclusive
Calls for police to reinvestigate parish councillor who 'blew up' neighbour's cat

Parish councillor resigns after being accused of trying to ‘blow up’ beloved pet cat

Exclusive
Calls for police to reinvestigate parish councillor who 'blew up' neighbour's cat

‘It made me feel physically sick’: Cat owner’s fury at parish councillor accused of trying to ‘blow up’ beloved pet

Nick Ferrari Reflects on an Unforgettable Journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau with Holocaust Survivor Arek Hersh

Nick Ferrari reflects on an unforgettable journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau with Holocaust survivor Arek Hersh

Actress and Writer Dame Maureen Lipman reads The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Actress and Writer Dame Maureen Lipman reads The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Exclusive
Online extremism under scrutiny: The Prime Minister calls for tougher regulations to curb access to violent content following the Southport murders.

Terrorism ‘kill guides’ shared in social media groups targeting 'loners' and people 'obsessed with violence'

Southport attack was ‘not an act of terrorism,’ Met chief Sir Mark Rowley tells LBC

Southport attack was ‘not an act of terrorism,’ Met chief Sir Mark Rowley tells LBC

Exclusive
The Chagos Islands deal is set to be a 'disaster' for US-UK relations, a former Home Secretary has said

'Surrender' of Chagos Islands to Mauritius would be 'disaster' for Labour's relationship with Trump, Braverman says

Exclusive
Britain's deal to cede the Chagos Islands has been cast into doubt

Labour deal to hand over Chagos Islands thrown into doubt as Starmer gives Trump time to 'consider' agreement

Exclusive
The UK and Mauritius said they have made "good progress" on a revised agreement, with Mauritian PM Navin Ramgoolam claiming the UK wants it finalised before Donald Trump is sworn in as president on January 20.

UK 'mid negotiation' over Chagos deal as government deny they're rushing deal through before Trump takes office

Rachel Reeves says UK must go 'further and faster' in search of growth - as Chancellor faces criticism over China visit

Rachel Reeves says UK must go 'further and faster' in search of growth - as Chancellor faces criticism over China visit

Rachel Reeves faces growing scrutiny as market jitters spark calls for fiscal clarity

Rachel Reeves faces growing pressure as market turmoil raises questions over Labour's fiscal credibility

Exclusive
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York 'thrilled' to support Nick Ferrari's Kids Who Read Succeed campaign.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York 'thrilled' to support Nick Ferrari's Kids Who Read Succeed campaign

Reform is “fixed” in favour of Nigel Farage, former deputy leader claims as he hits back at former boss

Reform is 'fixed' in favour of Nigel Farage, former deputy leader claims as he hits back at former boss

Nigel Farage has told LBC he has "no desire to go to war with Elon Musk".

Nigel Farage tells LBC he doesn't want 'war' with Elon Musk and he plans to 'mend fences' at Trump's inauguration