Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Unusable PPE

Tuesday 19 July 2022 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Around 3% of PPE procured by the UK Government was unusable.
  • Half a billion pounds worth of procurement in Scotland during the pandemic did not go through usual scrutiny processes.
  • The UK Government delivered over 21.5 billion items of PPE to protect frontline staff during the pandemic.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alan Brown SNP
NHS
Context

The Public Accounts Committee found that there is £4 billion-worth of unusable, substandard PPE in storage due to be incinerated. This raises concerns about environmental impact and procurement practices.

Question

I am concerned about the amount of unusable PPE procured by Government since the outbreak of COVID-19. If he will make an estimate with Cabinet colleagues on this issue.

Answer from Maria Caulfield

Around 3% of PPE that the Department purchased was unusable. We are working to dispose of this unusable stock in the most environmentally friendly way.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for a precise estimation from Cabinet colleagues is not addressed, only a general statement on disposal methods.

How: We Are Working To Dispose Of This Unusable Stock In The Most Environmentally Friendly Way

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Q2 Kirsten Oswald SNP
NHS Scotland
Context

Scotland has a different approach to PPE procurement, with local production accounting for 88% of PPE supplies and lower costs compared to the UK. The Scottish Government have strong procurement rules.

Question

From the onset of the pandemic, Scotland worked with NHS and local suppliers to secure adequate stocks of PPE at a third less cost than the UK. Will the UK Government follow Scotland's ethical model in future procurement?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

I am very interested to hear from the hon. Lady, because according to The Herald on Sunday recently, half a billion pounds-worth of procurement in Scotland during the pandemic did not go through the usual scrutiny process. I would be very interested to hear her update on that.

Not addressed: The specific ask about adopting Scotland's procurement model is not addressed; instead, the answerer raises concerns about Scotland's own procurement practices.

How: Half A Billion Pounds-Worth Of Procurement In Scotland During The Pandemic Did Not Go Through The Usual Scrutiny Process

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Q3 Alan Brown SNP
NHS
Context

The Public Accounts Committee found that £4 billion-worth of unusable, substandard PPE is being incinerated. There are concerns about the recovery of funds from these suppliers.

Question

Public Accounts Committee found £4 billion-worth of unusable, substandard PPE in storage due to be incinerated. While cronies and donors were fast-tracked, this put frontline workers at risk by preventing them access to proper equipment. How much of that £4 billion will be recovered, and what other actions are being pursued against these suppliers?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

To put this in context, I make no apologies for all the efforts that were made to secure PPE for frontline staff. We delivered more than 21.5 billion items of PPE to keep frontline staff safe during a time when we had a dangerous virus that no one knew anything about.

Not addressed: The specific ask regarding recovery and actions against suppliers is not addressed; instead, the answerer focuses on efforts made to secure PPE.

How: I Make No Apologies For All The Efforts That Were Made To Secure Ppe For Frontline Staff

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Q4 Martyn Day SNP
Scotland
Context

The Scottish Government's procurement processes ensured value for money, with lower costs than the UK. The UK's approach has been criticized for engaging in cronyism.

Question

While the Tories flogged off PPE contracts to party donors through their unlawful VIP lane, Scotland's processes ensured value for money; their PPE costs were less than a third of the UK Government's. Will the UK Government follow Scotland's example and refuse to engage in cronyism?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

I outlined in my answer to the hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Kirsten Oswald) that around half a billion-worth of pounds of procurement in Scotland did not go through the usual channels. All offers that were identified, regardless of route, underwent rigorous financial, commercial, legal and policy assessment.

Not addressed: The specific ask about adopting Scotland's model is not addressed; instead, the answerer discusses procurement processes in Scotland.

How: All Offers That Were Identified, Regardless Of Route, Underwent Rigorous Financial, Commercial, Legal And Policy Assessment

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