LONDON — Britain’s public spending watchdog is probing the cost of Donald Trump’s drug pricing deal with the U.K., after six committee chairs called for an investigation. The six committee chairs sent a letter to the NAO last month, urging the spending watchdog to investigate how much the U.K.-U.S. drug pricing deal will cost taxpayers and whether it offers value for money. The deal saw the U.K. commit to doubling its spending on innovative medicines by 2035 from 0.3% to 0.6% of its GDP, in exchange for three years of tariff-free access to the U.S. market.
The government has said the deal will cost £1 billion over the current spending review period, with no additional funding to be announced in the budget this year. However, officials have refused to disclose the deal's full cost, arguing that doing so could harm international relations and commercial interests. The letter was signed by Health and Social Care Committee Chair Layla Moran; Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Chair Chi Onwurah; Business and Trade Committee Chair Liam Byrne; Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Chair Tonia Antoniazzi; Scottish Affairs Committee Chair Patricia Ferguson; and Welsh Affairs Committee Chair Ruth Jones.
Davies said that he would follow up with the committee chairs, once the NAO completes its initial enquiries.
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