Debates between Jon Trickett and Neil O'Brien during the 2019-2024 Parliament

Thu 24th Nov 2022

Covid-19: PPE Procurement

Debate between Jon Trickett and Neil O'Brien
Thursday 24th November 2022

(1 year, 12 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Neil O'Brien Portrait Neil O'Brien
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My hon. Friend is completely correct. Some have short memories. Many of us stood up in this House to chivvy Ministers, asking, “Why aren’t you going faster? Why don’t you do more? Take the risks, get the stuff—we need it.” That was the priority. Many Members want it both ways: they criticised us at the time for not going fast enough or taking enough risks, and now they do not accept that we are going through all the contracts that did not perform.

Jon Trickett Portrait Jon Trickett (Hemsworth) (Lab)
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Is it not clear that slack management in the Department led to get-rich elements of the British ruling establishment taking money from the NHS at a time of national crisis? Their watchword was “greed” rather than “public service”. Where is the right hon. Member for West Suffolk (Matt Hancock)—I have notified him of my intention to mention him—who was in charge of the NHS when all this was going on? Is he still in Australia getting his £400,000 for eating unspeakable parts of the anatomy of various beasties?

Neil O'Brien Portrait Neil O'Brien
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I cannot comment on the latest goings-on in the jungle but the answer to the hon. Gentleman’s point is the same as I have given before: there is a clear process, which every PPE supply bid, regardless of where it came from, went through.