Covid-19: Contracts and Mass Testing Programme Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Fowler
Main Page: Lord Fowler (Crossbench - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Fowler's debates with the Department of Health and Social Care
(4 years ago)
Lords ChamberWe have published 80% of the contracts to date and are working on publishing the rest. I hope that that will meet noble Lords’ expectations.
My Lords, I do not want to give the impression that absolutely everything is perfect. Those were desperate days and we had to do extraordinary things to protect our healthcare staff. I remind noble Lords that other countries were flying in their representatives with bags of cash on private jets in order to seal contracts and some of our supplies were literally taken from under our noses on the runway at Hong Kong airport. They were extremely difficult times and I do not pretend for a moment that everything was absolutely perfect, but I reassure noble Lords that the right procedures were put in place by officials, and I reassure the noble Lord that these figures are currently being validated with the National Audit Office.
My Lords, the time allowed for this Question has elapsed and it brings Question Time to an end.