Covid-19: PPE Procurement
Debate between Ian Lavery and Neil O'Brien(2 years ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
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Neil O’Brien
I will look closely at all the suggestions that the hon. Member makes. I have not had a chance to look at the Bill, but I am sure that we are always in the market for constructive ideas.
Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab)
At the same time as the Government were being obstructive and deliberately attempting to block Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in the north-east from providing PPE from a factory of its own, people who were closely connected to the Government were making millions from PPE. Minister, is that just a strange coincidence?
Neil O’Brien
The people who came through the high-priority route were not politically connected people, except in the sense that they were being referred by MPs across the House. I do not know the exact details of the north-east supplier that the hon. Gentleman mentions. If he gets in touch, I will be happy to take that up and provide him with a full explanation of what the issue was with that bid for a contract.