Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Personal Protective Equipment

Thursday 11 June 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • British businesses have signed contracts to manufacture over 2 billion items of PPE through UK-based manufacturers.
  • The Government have delivered over 1.7 billion items of PPE across the health and social care system in England since the start of the outbreak.
  • The Government have been working to ensure frontline NHS and care workers get the necessary equipment to do their jobs safely.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Justin Madders Lab Crewe and Nantwich
NHS
Context

The Government's handling of PPE during the COVID-19 outbreak has come under scrutiny for its procurement strategy, particularly regarding reliance on overseas suppliers.

Question

What proportion of personal protective equipment procured by the Government during the covid-19 outbreak was manufactured by UK businesses?

Answer from Amanda Milling (Minister for the Cabinet Office)

British businesses have stepped up to provide PPE including aprons, face masks, visors and gowns. We have now signed contracts to manufacture over 2 billion items of PPE through UK-based manufacturers, and we have already taken delivery of products from new certified UK manufacturers.

Answered
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Q2 Justin Madders Lab Crewe and Nantwich
NHS Social Care
Context

The MP criticises the government for its handling of stockpiling and reliance on overseas suppliers during the crisis, questioning its foresight.

Question

There is no doubt that the devastating consequences of covid-19 were exacerbated because the Government allowed stockpiles of PPE to be run down and were too slow to anticipate the level of need there would be. Given that in a worldwide pandemic there will inevitably be worldwide demand for PPE, do the Government now accept that it was a mistake to place so much reliance on overseas investors?

Answer from Amanda Milling (Minister for the Cabinet Office)

The Government have been working around the clock to get frontline NHS and care workers the equipment that they need to do their jobs safely and to save lives. Since the start of the outbreak, we have delivered over 1.7 billion items of PPE across the health and social care system within England. Plus, tens of millions of items have been distributed to the devolved Administrations.

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