Covid-19 Contracts 2022-03-31
2022-03-31
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about ensuring value for money in the award of covid-19 contracts.
What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the need to ensure value for money in the award of covid-19 contracts. Given that billions of pounds of taxpayers' money are still at risk, what is being done to understand governance issues around this and how will it be reported to the House?
Her Majesty's Government's priority throughout the pandemic has been to protect lives and livelihoods. Contracts must achieve value for taxpayers using good commercial judgment, with award details published per transparency guidelines. The government faced an emergency needing immediate PPE supplies. Domestic production was increased from 1% to 70%. Some suppliers provided faulty items but that does not mean majority of the supply was defective.
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Assessment & feedback
The MP asked for a report on governance issues and costs, which was not directly addressed by mentioning only domestic production increase and supplier faults without specifics.
Changed Subject To Defending Government Actions
Denied Fundamental Error Of National Audit Office
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Between March 2020 and October 2021, £737 million was spent to store excess PPE. Over half of VIP suppliers provided unsuitable PPE and 1.5 billion items are in storage expected to expire before being used.
According to the National Audit Office investigation into PPE contracts, billions of pounds of taxpayers' money is still at risk. What is being done to understand governance issues around this and the cost of that waste? How will that be reported to the House?
Government succeeded in getting domestic production up from 1% to 70%. All that means is that in a shipment of tonnes of PPE, one item was faulty. This does not mean majority items received were defective.
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Assessment & feedback
The MP asked about governance issues and costs but the response focused on production increase and supplier quality without addressing waste or reporting to the House.
Changed Subject To Defending Government Procurement Actions
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Millions of pounds were given to an offshore company involving a Tory peer, which sold PPE at three times the price it bought for. Millions of items are now in storage with costs increasing.
The Minister talks about value for money, yet we know that the Government handed hundreds of millions of pounds of our money to an offshore company involving a Tory peer, created just days before and without any transparency, that sold Government PPE at three times the price it had bought it for. Millions of items are now stuck in storage, costing us even more. The Government refuse to reveal what they know about the company; when will we get the promised procurement Bill? What safeguards will be in it?
Socialist view argues against urgency but Government got PPE quickly. Ensured value for money; those who overcharged will be pursued.
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Assessment & feedback
The MP asked about procurement bill and transparency on the offshore company, none of which was addressed directly.
Attacked Socialist Viewpoint
Did Not Address Specifics Regarding Procurement Bill Or Transparency
Response accuracy