Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's annual report and accounts 2020-21, key findings, paragraph 8, page 200, how much of the (a) £0.67 billion of personal protective equipment (PPE) which cannot be used, (b) £2.6 billion of PPE which is not suitable for use within the health and social care sector and (c) £0.75 billion of excess stock PPE, was purchased through the high priority lane.

Of £0.67 billion of personal protective equipment (PPE) which cannot be used, £0.36 billion was purchased through the high priority lane (HPL). Of the £2.6 billion of PPE not suitable for use within the health and social care sector, £1.1 billion was purchased through the HPL. The level of excess stocks of PPE is calculated by the total volume of items held at 31 March 2021 in each category and comparing it to future expected demand for that category. Therefore, we are unable to apportion the excess PPE stock between different suppliers and purchasing routes. Where contracts have failed to deliver, the Department is pursuing contractual remedies to recover taxpayers’ money. This will apply equally to HPL contracts.